Amsterdam to drastically increase tourist tax, reaching 20% by 2031

Amsterdam is set to significantly raise its tourist tax, a move aimed at curbing mass tourism and boosting local revenue. The tax on accommodation, currently at 12.5% of the nightly rate excluding VAT, will gradually increase to 16% in 2027 and then by one percentage point annually, reaching 20% in 2031.

This progressive increase is part of a broader strategy by Amsterdam's new local administration to manage the impact of tourism on the city. Amsterdam has a target of a maximum of 20 million tourist overnight stays per year, a figure that has recently been surpassed. The higher tax is intended to reduce tourist pressure while also generating additional income without significantly increasing local taxes for residents.

For tourists, the financial impact will be noticeable. For example, a room costing 100 euros per night before VAT currently incurs a 12.50 euro tourist tax. By 2031, with the tax at 20%, this amount will rise to 20 euros. This increase is compounded by a recent rise in VAT on accommodation, which went from 9% to 21% starting January 1, 2026.

While the tax rates are applied differently, the combined effect of the VAT increase and the rising tourist tax means that costs for accommodation will rise substantially. For a 100-euro net room price, the total tax and VAT could reach 41 euros by 2031, up from 33.50 euros currently. The city hopes this measure will help balance the benefits of tourism with the quality of life for its residents.