Amsterdam on the fight against overtourism – a maximum of 20 million overnight stays per year

Amsterdam is banning the construction of new hotels, a drastic measure to curb overtourism, CNN reports. The emergence of new hotels will take place under very strict conditions and, in addition, the number of tourists will be monitored on an annual basis, announced the administration of the Dutch capital.

“We want to make and keep the city livable for our citizens and visitors – said the local government in a statement. – This means no over-tourism, no new hotels and no more than 20 million overnight stays for tourists in a year.”

Under the new regulation, hotels in Amsterdam will only go up if another one closes. Exceptions will also be allowed if the proposed new construction plans to be more sustainable. The rule will not apply to hotels that have already received a building permit.

Amsterdam has been filled with tourists for a long time and welcomes millions of visitors every year (according to statistics, between 10 and 20 million people stay in the capital) – a large part of them chose the city because of the legal use of marijuana or because of the popular red light district. In recent years, however, the measures for tourists have been tightened and the use of weed is no longer allowed in public places, and the organized tours in front of the showcases of sex workers in the red light district have also ended.