Amsterdam, the city of canals, bikes, and Heineken, but also of charmingly distinct architecture and incredible art collections, is often overshadowed by its reputation as a party town.
And despite its ‘stay away’ campaign that was launched in spring this year, a bid to dissuade rowdy tourists from wreaking havoc in the quaint city centre, that reputation has proven to be a tricky one to shake.
So now the Dutch capital is shifting gears to focus on improving quality of life for residents. According to a press release from the local authority, the new strategy is called ‘renew your view’. The aim is to encourage visitors to see Amsterdam through the eyes of locals and target reducing the number of people who ‘seek sensation and vulgar entertainment’, says euronews.
From January 1, 2024, new rules for living in the city will apply. The campaign should run for a year until early 2025.
First up are new housing rules, which aim to increase the housing supply for students, teachers and trainee police officers. Young people who have lived in Amsterdam for six of the last 10 years will take top housing priority.
The first way authorities plan to do this is by limiting the number of private holiday rentals and capping the number of bed and breakfasts allowed in each city district. The maximum number of B&Bs has been reduced by 30 percent, which means no further B&Bs can open in the city centre for the foreseeable future.
The city is also cracking down on tourist-focused establishments. The Dutch Council of State last week ruled that the city was no longer allowed to issue permits for souvenir shops in the city centre, instead creating space for bookshops, salons and gyms.
While going on a party break can be fun, the best way to see a city really is through the eyes of a local. Let’s hope Amsterdam sees more success with this new campaign to preserve its enchanting city centre.
The rise of overtourism measures
Amsterdam isn’t the only city keen to limit the impacts of overtourism. This summer, Florence banned Airbnbs from its city centre, while the increasingly popular travel destination of Japan recently announced a nationwide campaign to showcase lesser-known hotspots and deter overcrowding in its metropolitan areas. Read our list of all the destinations that want tourists to stay away.
Did you see that this popular travel destination will soon ban smoking in most public spaces?
Plus: Europe’s highest disco will be taking place in Switzerland next year.
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