Amsterdam tourism hits record 23.7 million overnight stays despite city tourism cap
Tourist overnight stays in Amsterdam rose again last year, reaching 23.7 million in 2025, up about 800,000 from 2024, while a group of residents has filed a lawsuit against the city over its repeated failure to respect its 20 million overnight-stay cap, NH reports. The increase marks another record in a series of annual highs, even as municipal efforts aim to curb visitor growth. The municipality expects overnight tourism to continue growing through 2028, though at a slower pace than between 2015 and 2019.
The city reported that the 23.7 million overnight stays once again exceeded its self-imposed limit of 20 million. That threshold has been repeatedly surpassed in recent years, despite policies intended to reduce tourism pressure. The continuing increases have fueled legal action by a group of Amsterdammers who argue the municipality is not enforcing its own rules.
Officials said the rise is driven by strong global demand for travel and Amsterdam’s sustained popularity as a destination. At the same time, the city noted that policy interventions, including reducing overnight accommodation capacity, have slowed the pace of growth compared with earlier years.
Municipal data also show that day visits by tourists reached 21.9 million last year, slightly higher than in 2024 but still below levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials described a mixed outlook, noting both continued increases and a moderating growth rate. "The growth is slowing, but we are not there yet, and we feel the urgency to structurally reduce visitor numbers further.” Tourism taxation is also part of the policy debate. The city currently levies what is described as the highest tourist tax in Europe.
