Amsterdam cracks down on 20 illegal hotels in one month

Over this past month the municipality of Amsterdam found and addressed 20 illegal vacation rentals in the city. Two of these "illegal hotels" were closed immediately due to fire hazard and all 20 "hotel owners" can face a fine of between 13,500 and 20 thousand euros, Het Parool reports.

The illegal rentals were discovered thanks to the so-called Summer Hotline - a hotline on which Amsterdam residents can report suspicion of illegal rentals or disturbances. The idea is that a team of inspectors immediately responds to all reports.

The municipality opened the hotline because of an increase in complaints about illegal vacation rentals during the summer months. Amsterdam residents are allowed to rent out their property, but only under strict conditions - they my not do so for more than 60 days per year and not to more than four people at a time.

The hotline opened on July 14th and will remain open until August 21st. From Thursday to Sunday local residents can report nuisance on municipal number 14020.

Last year 27 illegal hotels were found via the hotline.