A group of Amsterdam residents is taking the city to court, claiming officials have failed to uphold limits on tourism and protect the quality of life in the Dutch capital.

The citizens’ initiative Amsterdam heeft een Keuze ("Amsterdam Has a Choice") has filed a lawsuit against the municipality, supported by 12 neighborhood organizations. The group raised €50,000 from local donations to fund the legal action, which was formally launched this week.

At issue is a 2021 city ordinance that capped the number of annual tourists overnight stays at 20 million. Last year, that number reached nearly 23 million — and continues to rise.

“For three years now, the city has allowed tourism to exceed the legal limit without taking real action,” said initiative spokesperson Jasper van Dijk. “This isn’t just a number — it’s about livability, housing, and the future of our neighborhoods.”

The city has introduced several measures to curb tourism, including raising the tourist tax to 12.5% — the highest in Europe — halving the number of river and sea cruise stops, and halting permits for new hotel construction. However, residents argue these efforts haven’t been enough to slow the tide.

In May, city officials acknowledged that tourism was still growing, though at a slower pace than before the pandemic.

Van Dijk and other residents are calling for tougher policies, including a further hike in the tourist tax. They argue that the extra revenue could be used to address issues caused or worsened by tourism, such as the housing shortage and urban cleanliness.

“Raising the tax significantly would generate more income than all the housing and sustainability plans in recent coalition agreements combined,” Van Dijk said. “That money could be put to good use for the people who actually live here.”

The lawsuit marks a growing frustration among locals who feel that tourism — long a pillar of Amsterdam’s economy — has reached unsustainable levels. The case could set a precedent for how European cities balance tourism with residents’ rights and urban livability.

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Amsterdam Residents Take City to Court Over Mass Tourism Surge