Amsterdam is poised to introduce the highest tourist tax in Europe next year, as confirmed by the city's finance chief, Hester van Buren, in a statement to Dutch News on

Thursday.

The city plans to raise the tax on overnight stays to 12.5% of the hotel room's cost, while cruise ship passengers will see their per-person tax rise from €8 to €11.

In practical terms, these changes translate to tourists paying an average of €22 per night in taxes, compared to the previous €15 for a room costing €175. Van Buren noted, "This is the fourth highest globally."

The city's administration had initially proposed a smaller increase but decided to raise the rate following pressure from the city council. In total, Amsterdam anticipates generating €65 million in tourist taxes next year.

Van Buren clarified that the objective is to fund services for local residents, rather than discourage tourists from visiting the city. She emphasized that it's a delicate balance and an estimate. While a high tax could help address over-tourism, it would also reduce revenue.

Van Buren also disclosed that she has been in discussions with officials from other cities facing similar challenges due to an influx of tourists, such as Venice and Barcelona.

"We also have to address day trippers," she added. "Certainly, we can't set up turnstiles to block access to the city, but we are exploring ways to impose some form of city tax on day visitors."

Amsterdam expects to host over 20 million visitors this year, with many being day-trippers. The city has been grappling with the challenges posed by increasing numbers of tourists, particularly budget travelers causing issues and congregating in the red-light district.

Amsterdam is currently implementing a comprehensive package of measures to combat nuisance tourism and has committed to capping the number of domestic and foreign visitors at 20 million. Photo by Gabinho, Wikimedia commons.