Amsterdam stepping up checks on bed and breakfast permit holders

The municipality of Amsterdam is intensifying its checks on bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) in the city. An inspection showed that several Amsterdam residents aren’t making use of their B&B permits, which could go to people on the waiting list to open such an establishment, Parool reports.

In 2020, Amsterdam limited the number of B&Bs that can be in every district. Locals who want to use part of their home as a B&B must obtain a permit to do so. At the start of this year, the city reduced the maximum number of B&Bs by 30 percent.

Several districts are already at their maximum, especially in and around the city center, Housing alderman Dirk de Jager reported to the city council in response to questions from the CDA. That means that no new B&Bs can open in those districts until one closes. There are 58 people on the waiting list for a B&B permit.

The CDA worried that people may have stopped using their homes as B&Bs but never revoked the permit, resulting in unnecessary waiting lists. The party asked De Jager to investigate, and a first inspection revealed that this was indeed the case.

A check at 56 addresses in Amsterdam-Oost found 20 homes licensed as B&Bs but not used as such. This highlighted the need for additional checks, the alderman said. He will therefore intensify the the checks to see if more permits can be revoked.