menachem

https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/meld...m_content=free

The article is in Dutch, which you can google translate. The gist of it is that anyone who offers their dwelling as a short stay let has to register and the maximum number of days for a dwelling to be available for short stay letting will be strictly enforced. Something to take into account if you seek to rent through AirBnB.

menachem

And in further news, the City Council has adopted a policy that will withhold permits to businesses that primarily cater to tourists:

https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/amst...kels~a4520250/

- Cheese shops
- Souvenir shops
- Icecream and waffle places
- Donut shops
- Bicycle rental businesses
- Luggage consignment
- Pick up points for AirBnB keys
- Drugs, sex, beer etc "museums"
- Experiences
- Ticketshops
- Shops with bars
- Smartshops
- Minimarts

PalenQ

Trying to reduce tourism in general?

How about locals working in those shops?

I mean Souvenir shops will be limited?

Interesting and if that is what locals want fine.

hetismij2

An article in English about it: https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...visitor-influx

PalenQ

17 million tourists up from 12 million 5 years ago - wow! Bold action and seems well intended less Amsterdam becomes the Venice of the North in more ways than one.

Thanks for posting - very interesting. I hope central Amsterdam can retain some semblance of a real lived in by locals place instead of a huge Leidesplein.

marvelousmouse

I can understand the shop thing, actually. A lot of shops that cater to tourists are kind of trashy and fly by night. Inhibiting the growth of those shops would in theory mean that something better would take their place, shops that would enhance rather than detract from the neighborhoods. It's not a bad move.

dotheboyshall

Rather than "pile 'em high, sell them cheap" it appears the Dutch want fewer but better (wealthier?) tourists

menachem

It's a good, pre-emptive move ahead of the 2018 council elections. Criticism of the incumbent council is that it stuck too long to its laissez faire policy.

thursdaysd

Good for Amsterdam! Pity there seems no likelihood of Venice following suit.

menachem

And, a further restriction on short stay letting: the number of days that a property can be rented out is now reduced to 30/year, from 60/year. So, if you are AirBnB-ing, please don't because your rental may be suddenly pulled for - cough- "reasons".

quokka

Understandable! Amsterdam is not a theme park but a city where people actually live. It's high time that cities take action in favour of their inhabitants, before they are turned into mere theme parks.

Mass tourism ruins what it has been looking for...

hetismij2

Ain't that the truth!

Nonconformist

Apparently the new city government plans to not only ban airbnb altogether in popular areas, they're also increasing the tourist tax: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a8355521.html

ribeirasacra

Another article in English on this.
Dutchnews.nl
Just be careful of what you rent.
Hopeful this sort of thing will be reduced too.

menachem

Talk is that in some areas in the city centre, short stay lets will be entirely prohibited, including buy to let and offering accommodation through AirBnB.