Amsterdam city centre remains heavily reliant on tourism
The municipality wants to bring more residents, shops and culture back to a centre where visitors continue to dominate the economy.
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Amsterdam city centre relies more heavily on visitors than many other urban centres, while residents and businesses warn of a one-sided offering. Municipal figures show that tourism is growing again, but also that the city wants to steer more firmly towards liveability and economic diversity in the years ahead.
In 2024, Amsterdam had an estimated 14 million tourist day visitors and 10 million overnight visitors, according to the municipality’s Research and Statistics department. The number of tourist overnight stays is now above its pre-pandemic level. For 2028, the municipality expects between 25 and 29.4 million tourist overnight stays.
That growth is not felt equally everywhere. In 2025, tourism carrying capacity was under pressure in six districts, one more than in 2023. The municipality uses this indicator to assess where visitor numbers place too much strain on liveability, public space and amenities. It is not a judgement on individual visitors, but on the capacity of neighbourhoods.
Tourism is economically significant for hotels, the hospitality sector, museums, canal-cruise companies and shops. At the same time, the municipality describes the risk of monoculture: streets where the offering is geared mainly towards visitors and less towards residents. In its implementation programme, Amsterdam mentions retail diversity, vacancies, undermining crime and the balance between living and recreation.
The city is therefore working on a package of measures. These include retail-mix regulation, a licensing system for certain shops, restrictions on holiday rentals and plans for a different hospitality economy in the Red Light District. The municipality also wants to make more homes and cultural functions possible in parts of the city centre. Implementation is taking place together with businesses, property owners and residents.
The core of the debate, then, is not simply whether there should be more or fewer tourists. The question is what kind of visitor economy the city wants to retain and who will have room within it. Businesses fear that sharp restrictions will damage turnover and employment. Residents and the municipal authorities point out that a centre without affordable housing, local shops and everyday amenities will ultimately become less attractive to visitors and Amsterdammers alike.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Amsterdam receives millions of day visitors and overnight visitors.
- The municipality expects the number of tourist overnight stays to continue growing.
- According to municipal criteria, tourism carrying capacity is under pressure in several districts.
- The municipality wants to steer towards a more diverse offering and greater balance between living, working and recreation.
Left
Arguments Tourism must not determine who can afford to live in the city. The municipality must protect housing, public space and local amenities, even if that means fewer hotel rooms, holiday rentals and tourist shops.
Values Affordability, liveability and residents’ say.
Consequences Stricter rules could ease the pressure, but could also reduce jobs and income in parts of the visitor economy.
Centre
Arguments Amsterdam needs visitors and tourism revenue, but growth must be tied to carrying capacity. Dispersal, quality improvements and agreements with businesses are more practical than a blanket ban.
Values Balance, practicality and long-term planning.
Consequences A gradual approach could limit economic damage, but requires sustained enforcement and investment.
Right
Arguments The city should give businesses room to determine supply and demand for themselves. Excessive licensing, retail-mix rules and visitor restrictions could discourage investment and damage its international appeal.
Values Economic freedom, entrepreneurship and competition.
Consequences More room for tourism could support employment and tax revenue, but without targeted measures, nuisance and pressure on housing could rise further.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The figures are linked to their publication year or forecast year and come from municipal sources. The policy choices are distinguished from the interpretation that reliance and monoculture may be problematic.
- confirmed In 2024, Amsterdam had approximately 14 million tourist day visitors and 10 million overnight visitors. — This is stated in Amsterdam Research and Statistics’ tourism dossier. source
- confirmed The number of tourist overnight stays could rise to between 25.0 and 29.4 million in 2028. — The municipal forecast gives this range. source
- confirmed In 2025, tourism carrying capacity was under pressure in six districts. — Research and Statistics reports this in the tourism dossier. source
- confirmed Amsterdam is working on retail diversity, restrictions on holiday rentals and a different visitor economy. — These measures are set out in the municipal implementation programme and the vision for the city centre. source
Editor's note
The visitor numbers, forecasts and municipal policy plans have been publicly confirmed. The characterisation that Amsterdam is more reliant than other cities comes from recent reporting; the municipal sources mainly substantiate the scale of tourism and the policy response.Sources
- Dossier Toerisme — Onderzoek en Statistiek Amsterdam
- Uitvoeringsprogramma Aanpak Binnenstad 2026 — Gemeente Amsterdam
- Toekomst binnenstad — Gemeente Amsterdam