Unlawful Amsterdam Airbnb units targeted in "Easter Offensive"

Amsterdam is launching an "Easter Offensive" on illegal renting of homes to tourists through sites like Airbnb over this weekend. From Good Friday to Easter Monday Amsterdam residents can report suspicions of unlawful rentals on a reporting hotline, the city announced in a press release on Monday. As during previous Easter weekends, Amsterdam is expecting many visitors to the city this weekend. Many of them will overnight in the city, some in homes offered for rent on sites like Airbnb and Wimdu. As housing in Amsterdam is in high demand, there are strict rules attached to renting your home to a tourist. For example, Amsterdam residents are not allowed to rent out their homes for more than 60 days or to more than 4 people a year. During this Easter Weekend anyone who thinks these rules are being violated, can call the reporting hotline 14020 between 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. A city representative will go and check what is going on at the reported address. "Enforcement through hotline reports turned out to be quite efficient last summer" Housing alderman Laurens Ivens said. "Reporters immediately got someone on the line. The enforcers then link back what they saw and what steps the municipality took. Amsterdammers feel heard and the chance of being caught is increased in this way."