The amount goes to citizens’ initiative ‘Amsterdam has a choice’, which is fighting for a stop on mass tourism. “Yes, for every Amsterdammer who has ever signed the petition to stop mass tourism, a euro.”
Agreements did not comply
The citizens’ initiative forced agreements with the municipality that the number of tourist hotel stays would remain below 20 million. Since that number has always been exceeded in recent years, ‘Amsterdam has a choice’ thought it was time for action and they announced a lawsuit. “We have looked at it for a number of years and saw tourism rising,” said Jasper van Dijk. “Now, a few years later, we cannot help to force the municipality to keep them on the agreements they made in 2021 via the legal route.”
Tourist tax
That supports Klöpping by announcing today by making 30,000 euros. “If you make that appointment with Amsterdammers, you have to stick to it,” he says. “And if we are allowed to make a suggestion, raise that tourist tax. This is because it shows that this is the most effective measure.”
Van Dijk endorses that. “It picks up millions and millions. With that money you can make the city better and more focused on Amsterdammers. You can ensure that neighborhood stores do not disappear or the tea shop does not disappear. And you can ensure that the facilities are retained for Amsterdammers.”