Hospitality sector opposes higher tourist tax in Amsterdam
Forty-seven prominent figures fear visitors will stay away, while the council wants extra revenue and less crowding.
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Forty-seven prominent figures from the hospitality, cultural and events sectors are asking Amsterdam to postpone the planned increase in tourist tax. The tax would rise from 12.5 to 16 per cent in 2027 and then increase to 20 per cent by 2031.
The appeal appears in a letter to the municipal authorities. The signatories include Corendon chief executive Günay Uslu, hospitality entrepreneur Won Yip and RAI chief executive Paul Riemens. They warn that the increase would coincide with the 21 per cent VAT rate on hotel stays.
According to the signatories, this could price Amsterdam out of the market. They fear visitors will stay outside the city and visit Amsterdam only during the day. This would not necessarily reduce crowding in the city centre, while hotels, hospitality businesses, cultural organisations and events could lose revenue.
According to Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, the municipality is defending the measure on two grounds: extra revenue and less visitor pressure. According to Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, the proceeds are linked partly to waste collection, neighbourhood enforcement officers and a property fund intended to help transform tourist shops into homes.
The debate concerns not only the rate, but also who ultimately bears the tax. Hotels can pass part of it on to guests, but may also lose revenue or margins if visitors stay elsewhere. The effect depends on price sensitivity, competition and the supply available in surrounding municipalities.
One important tension is that day visitors do not pay Amsterdam tourist tax. KHN reported that Amsterdam received an estimated 12.9 million unique day visitors and 10.1 million staying visitors in 2025. More people staying in hotels outside the city could therefore reduce overnight stays without lowering crowding proportionately.
The city council is expected to decide on the budget in December, and with it the rate for 2027. Until then, the increase is not yet final. It remains uncertain whether, and how many, visitors would stay elsewhere as a result of the measure.
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Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- The planned increase could generate extra municipal revenue for waste collection, enforcement and housing-related projects, according to KHN.
- The municipality links the measure to the aim of limiting visitor pressure.
▼ Concerns
- Tourist tax would come on top of the 21 per cent VAT rate on hotel stays, according to ANP.
- Hoteliers fear pressure on revenue or margins and a shift towards overnight stays outside Amsterdam.
- More visitors staying elsewhere could increase the number of day visitors without reducing pressure on the city centre proportionately.
Critical note
These are nominal tax rates, not a measurement of the eventual price increase or the effect on demand. The scale of any shift to elsewhere remains uncertain.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Hotels, hospitality businesses, cultural organisations and events could pass on higher prices, lose revenue or bear part of the costs themselves.
- Households
- Amsterdam residents could benefit from extra municipal revenue if it is spent on services, but could also be affected by changes in crowding and prices.
- Government
- The municipality may receive more revenue, but must also monitor the effect on visitors, enforcement and economic activity.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Amsterdam wants to increase tourist tax.
- A group of 47 representatives from the hospitality, cultural and events sectors opposes the plan.
- The municipal objectives are extra revenue and less visitor pressure.
- The city council still has to make a final decision.
Left
Arguments Visitors and tourism businesses may contribute to the costs of waste collection, enforcement and pressure on the city; the proceeds can be used to improve liveability and provide homes.
Values Affordability for residents, public services and limiting overtourism.
Consequences A higher levy could make the city less attractive to mass tourism, but could also affect jobs and small businesses.
Centre
Arguments The measure should be assessed on demonstrable effects and accompanied by monitoring, exemptions or adjustments if visitors stay elsewhere.
Values Administrative predictability, proportionality and a workable balance between residents and the economy.
Consequences A phased introduction could generate revenue without deciding in advance that one interest should prevail entirely.
Right
Arguments The municipality should be cautious about piling on taxes and prevent businesses and visitors from being penalised for problems that could also be addressed through dispersal and enforcement.
Values Low charges, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.
Consequences A high levy could make hotel rooms, events and employment more expensive and shift visitors to surrounding municipalities.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The rates, arguments and visitor numbers cited can be traced to ANP and KHN. The article distinguishes established policy plans from uncertain effects on visitors and businesses.
- confirmed Tourist tax would rise from 12.5 to 16 per cent in 2027 and to 20 per cent in 2031. — Mentioned by ANP and KHN. source
- confirmed A 21 per cent VAT rate on hotel stays has applied since 2026. — Mentioned in the ANP publication. source
- confirmed Amsterdam had an estimated 12.9 million day visitors and 10.1 million staying visitors in 2025. — Figures reported by KHN. source
Editor's note
The proposed rates and political decision-making can be verified. The possible effect on visitor numbers and business revenue has not yet been established.Sources
- Tientallen horecaprominenten tegen hogere toeristentaks Amsterdam — ANP
- Alle info over de Verordening op Toerisme in Balans — Koninklijke Horeca Nederland
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „amsterdam toeristenbelasting”
- NOS — „amsterdam toeristenbelasting”
- Het Parool — „amsterdam toeristenbelasting”