In short:
No, the constant increase in the tourist tax did not make it possible to reduce tourism in Amsterdam, the attendance having reached record levels despite the tax burden.
- A record tax: The municipal tourist tax amounts to 12.5% excluding VAT (Gemeente Amsterdam, 2026), accrued at a national hotel VAT increased from 9% to 21%, i.e. a total charge of 33.5% on each Night.
- A ceiling exceeded: Despite these increases, Amsterdam recorded a record of 23.7 million overnight stays in 2025 (Gemeente Amsterdam / CBS), largely breaking the official ceiling set at 20 million overnight stays.
- The Rift of Excursionists: The city totals 21.9 million one-day visits, travelers who completely escape the accommodation tax.
- A tax lever rather than a regulator: Municipal revenue will increase from 60 million to 75 million euros per year by 2030, transforming the measure into a budgetary rent.
Why does the tourist tax in Amsterdam not stop the increase in tourism?
The tourist tax in Amsterdam does not reduce tourism because the increase in prices is not enough to discourage visiting travelers in the Dutch capital. The municipality of Gemeente Amsterdam has however applied a rate of 12.5% of the price excluding VAT per night, which makes it the highest tourist tax in Europe. However, the increase in the cost of accommodation is absorbed by the visitors, keeping the destination’s latency at a critical level.
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also increased the national value-added tax (VAT) applied to hotel accommodation, increasing it from 9% to 21%. The accumulation of this national VAT and the municipal tourist tax brings the total tax pressure to an Amstellodam hotel room to approximately 33.5% of the net price. Despite this direct tax surcharge for the traveler, the number of tourist overnight stays was set at a record level of 23.7 million in 2025, or 800,000 more overnight stays than in 2024 according to Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS).
Key figures for attendance and taxation in Amsterdam
The official data shows a clear gap between the political objectives of urban peace and the reality on the ground. The official annual ceiling sets the desired maximum limit at 20 million tourist overnight stays, but the municipality exceeded it by 3.7 million overnight stays.
| Municipal or tax indicator | official value | Institutional source |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist tax rate (night) | 12.5% of the price excluding VAT | Gemeente Amsterdam (2026) |
| Total tax pressure overnight (tax + VAT) | 33.5% (12.5% tax + 21% VAT) | Gemeente Amsterdam / CMS Law (2026) |
| Registered annual tourist overnight stays | 23.7 million (+800,000 vs 2024) | Gemeente Amsterdam / CBS (2025) |
| Official ceiling of overnight stays set by the City | 20 million (3.7 m exceeding) | Gemeente Amsterdam (2025) |
| Annual number of one-day visitors (excursionists) | 21.9 million people | Gemeente Amsterdam (2025) |
| Flat fee for cruise passengers | €15.00 per day and per person | Gemeente Amsterdam (2026) |
| Projected annual revenue from the tourist tax DICI 2030 | change from €60m to €75m per year | Gemeente Amsterdam (2026) |
What are the financial forecasts and the trajectory of the tax by 2030?
The City Damsterdam Anticipates a constant increase in tax revenue thanks to an already planned increase schedule. The municipality expects a gradual increase in the tourist tax to 16% in 2027, followed by an increase of 1 point per year to reach 20% in 2030. This trajectory will make it possible to increase the annual municipal revenue generated by this 60 million euros to 75 million euros per year by 2030.
For some political actors and citizens, these amounts remain too modest in the face of the nuisances generated. The citizens’ initiative “Amsterdam Heeft Een Keuze” estimates that an increase in the tourist tax up to 32% would alone generate 900 million euros in revenue for the city. Nevertheless, experience shows that the increase in tariffs changes the financial profile of visitors without reducing the overall volume, transforming the measure into a budget performance tool rather than an instrument for regulating overtourism.
Are additional measures of the municipality more effective?
Aware of the limits of hotel tax leverage, the municipality acts on other factors such as cruises, furnished rentals and overall reception capacity. To limit mass flows, the City applies a flat tax per passenger on maritime and river cruise visits raising to €15.00 per day and per person. In parallel, the municipality reduced the maximum number of cruise ships authorized at the central terminal, increasing it from 190 to 100 stopovers per year.
The Sexerce control also on the urban accommodation park:
- Short term rentals: The legal limit for renting main residences on Airbnb-type platforms has been reduced from 30 nights to 15 nights per year in the city center and district of Pijp.
- Hotel moratorium: The Amsterdam hotel park has 544 hotels, comprising approximately 41,000 rooms and 92,000 beds frozen by a strict moratorium on any new hotel construction.
Despite these physical and tax restrictions, the overall pressure remains supported by the excursionists’ Lafflux. With 21.9 million one-day visits recorded in Amsterdam, a major part of the crowd present in the historic center does not sleep on site and thus escapes the tourist tax, making the latter ineffective to relieve the public space.
frequently asked questions
How much is the tourist tax in Amsterdam in 2026?
The tourist tax amounts to 12.5% of the price excluding VAT of the hotel overnight. By including the national VAT of 21% on accommodation, the overall tax burden on a room reaches 33.5% of the net price according to Gemeente Amsterdam.
Does the tourist tax reduce the number of tourists in Amsterdam?
No, the statistical data proves the opposite. Amsterdam recorded a record of 23.7 million overnight stays in 2025 despite high tax increases, exceeding the official ceiling set by the municipality of 3.7 million overnight stays.
How many cruise stalls are allowed in Amsterdam?
The Damsterdam municipality reduced the maximum number of cruise ships authorized at the central terminal to 100 stopovers per year, compared to 190 previously. Passengers pay a flat fee of €15.00 per day and per person.
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