The continuous social and environmental pressures caused by overtourism in Amsterdam have been escalated to a legal process. A Dutch environmental organization has filed a lawsuit against the city council, arguing that the city’s current tourism policy is “unsustainable.”
Lawsuit: “The City Has Become Unlivable”
The plaintiffs, a group of residents from Amsterdam’s historic center, claim that the intense tourist activity negatively affects their daily lives, drives up rental prices, and commercially exploits public spaces. The group asserts that the municipality has ignored the public interest in its decisions regarding tourism management.
20 Million Visitors: Above City Capacity
In 2024, Amsterdam hosted over 20 million tourists. This figure is nearly 25 times the city’s population. Local residents state that this congestion has “crossed the limits” and now seriously threatens the city’s unique identity.
The Municipality’s Defense
The Amsterdam City Council defends its position by citing several steps already taken to curb tourism, including banning cruise ships from docking in the city center, restricting new hotel licenses, and launching “respectful visit” campaigns. However, the plaintiffs contend that these measures are insufficient to address the scale of the overtourism crisis.
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This post was published on 27 September 2025 9:39 pm