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Brits heading to party city Amsterdam will not only face additional rules that came into place last year but now added costs as well. Trips to the Netherlands' capital city are set to get more expensive as it will implement a new tourist tax next year.
From 2024, holidaymakers will be handed the additional fee to tourists visiting on a cruise or at a hotel, guest house or Airbnb. Plus, the tax is set to be one of the highest across Europe meaning super cheap holidays to the city of cannabis, stag dos and canals may be set to come to an end.
The Dutch capital is introducing a new rule from next year, which brings its daily fee for cruise ship day visitors up from from 8 to 11 euros, or £6.94 to £9.54. Meanwhile if you are staying in a hotel, Airbnb or another type of guest house, then you'll have to fork out 12.5% of the room rate on top of the sticker price. That means a £1,000 hotel bill over the course of a week will end up costing visitors £125 more. The jump is a big one, from the current 7%.
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"The tourist tax will be further increased to fund the extra spending so that visitors make a bigger contribution to the city," a document announcing the changes reads. Amsterdam has been looking to improve the lives of local residents by reducing "nuisance" tourism involving drunkenness and noise pollution and the tax could help to address some resident concerns.
Other initiatives with this in mind include the "Stay Away" campaign which targeted British men aged 18 to 35. The Dutch city, which is famous for its Red Light District and legal cannabis cafes, is looking to limit sex-fuelled parties and rowdy behaviour and so the campaign aimed to discourage people heading to the city to "go wild".
Amsterdam’s officials have already put many new rules in place to fight against the swathes of stag and hen dos and booze weekenders causing havoc in the city. These include forcing brothels to shut their doors during certain times of the day and night, plus, alcohol can no longer be sold in some areas outside of designated times.
Earlier this year it was also made illegal for people to smoke cannabis outside on the streets. A ban on takeaway cannabis is also reportedly being considered and fines have been imposed. Tourists caught urinating in a canal, for instance, risk a fine of €140 (£121); while public drunkenness will cost €95 (£82.25).
In 2022, Amsterdam welcomed 17 million tourists, a number projected to grow to more than 20 million in 2023. It is apparently "grappling" to balance tourism with the city's unique style and charm, reports Ivan Saprov, founder of US-based travel-tech company Voyagu.
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Lots of countries have places a tourist tax on visitors to combat over-tourism and to re-invest holidaymakers cash into services. Venice will charge a fee for day guests entering the city. The historic city will require all tourists over the age of 14 to pay the set charge and pre-book entry into the city. The trial of the tourism fee will run during peak times next year, stated city council member for tourism Simone Venturini.
Meanwhile, Barcelona hiked up its tourist tax too. Barcelona city council says it wants to bring in 53 million euros from its tourist tax in 2023 and is aiming for 100 million in 2024.
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