New Amsterdam gov't to impose more rules on tourism

The new Amsterdam college of mayor and aldermen will also be tough on tourism. The coalition negotiations between GroenLinks, D66, PvdA and SP are still ongoing, but the parties reached an agreement on their tourism plans, they announced on Wednesday morning, Het Parool reports.

"International tourism is part of it, but the obvious positive effects are starting to take on a dark side in the nuisance caused by a decline of livability. We want to tackle that firmly." GroenLinks leader in Amsterdam Rutger Groot Wassink said.

One of the new coalition's plans is to ban Airbnb in the busy Amsterdam neighborhoods. And to limit Airbnb rentals to 30 days per year outside the busy neighborhoods. 

The parties plan to restrict freedom on the canal water. Boat passengers taking a tour through the city center, will have to board and disembark outside the center. Enforcement will be extended. 

The new coalition also decided to cancel plans for a new larger port for cruise ships. In 2017 it was decided that the Passengers Terminal will be moved to the Coehaven in the Westlijke Havengebied, because the planned construction of bridges over the IJ will make the current cruise ship terminal inaccessible to large ships. The parties decided to scrap that plan, because a new passenger port will limit residential construction in the port area and does not sufficiently spread out the flow of tourists. In consultation with neighboring municipalities, an alternative location is being looked into in the area along the Noordzee Canal. The current terminal on the Piet Heijnkade will remain accessible to smaller ships for the time being.

Touring cars that transport tourists into and out of the city will no longer be allowed within the Ring, under the IJ. In anticipation of a plan of action, the tourist buses will be allowed to stop on the bus deck behind Amsterdam Central Station, and at restaurant Zouthaven where a transfer to the tour boats will be established. 

In the city center, GroenLinks, D66, PvdA and SP want to expand the management of the retail offer. In addition to banning new tourist shops, they are now also looking at limiting the number of branches of large retail chains. The parties also want a calmer street scene. To this end advertising tax will be reintroduced and advertising boards that play videos will be banned. 

The organization Amsterdam Marketing, which promotes Amsterdam to the rest of the world, will change into a knowledge center and will get a new name. 

These plans will obviously cost money. The four parties therefore want to increase tourist tax throughout the city to 7 percent in order to pay for these measures. Currently tourist tax is 6 percent in the city center and 4 percent in the areas outside the center.