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Amsterdam Residents File Legal Complaint to Cap Tourists at 20 Million
4 Oct, 2025
Summary
- Amsterdam organization files legal complaint to limit tourists to 20 million per year
- Locals say city is losing its unique atmosphere due to mass tourism
- 30,000 residents have signed petition to enact policies to curb overtourism
On September 22, 2025, the organization Amsterdam Has a Choice filed a legal complaint against the city of Amsterdam, seeking to limit the number of annual overnight stays to 20 million. The group had previously raised nearly $60,000 from supporters to fund the legal action.
According to the organization's website, Amsterdammers are "fed up" with the impact of mass tourism on their city. Local shops are being replaced by souvenir stores and Nutella shops, while houses and public buildings are being converted into hotels. The group claims the city's unique atmosphere is being gradually lost due to the overwhelming influx of visitors.
The organization states that 30,000 residents of Amsterdam have already signed a petition in support of concrete plans and policies to curb mass tourism. They allege that the city government already has a policy for limiting annual tourist numbers, but has failed to implement any practical changes.
Amsterdam is the latest in a growing number of popular tourist destinations worldwide that are facing backlash from local communities over overcrowding and the negative impacts of excessive tourism. Similar protests have occurred in places like Hallstatt, Austria, and Mexico City in recent years.
