How crowded is Amsterdam right now?

Amsterdam currently has a saturation score of 86/100, classified as Severely overtouristed. This reflects crowd density, visitor impact on infrastructure, local sentiment, and recent trajectory.

What taxes or fees apply to visitors to Amsterdam?

Amsterdam has 5 documented visitor fees or taxes, including Tourist Tax (Hotel) and others. See the full table on this page for current amounts and effective dates.

Is Amsterdam considered overtouristed?

Amsterdam is rated Severely overtouristed on the crowddodger saturation index (86/100). This is considered overtouristed.

When was this assessment last updated?

Saturation scoring for Amsterdam was last updated on 2026-05-07. Source verification follows the published crowddodger methodology.

Netherlands · Europe

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, known for its concentric ring of 17th-century canals, gabled merchant houses, and dense historic centre. The city has been at the centre of Europe's overtourism debate, with overnight stays exceeding 22 million in 2024 against an official cap of 20 million. Local government has rolled out Europe's highest tourist tax, a hotel construction ban, cruise restrictions, and tour group caps in the De Wallen red light district.

Saturation snapshot

Severely overtouristed

Last updated: 2026-05-07

Movement through central areas is slow — expect to dodge and wait. Lines at major sights routinely exceed 1–2 hours without pre-booking. Iconic views are difficult to photograph without crowds in frame. Local residents have publicly raised concerns about visitor volume.

Crowd Density: 88 estimated
Visitor Impact: 90 source
Local Sentiment: 82 source
Trajectory: 75 source

Restrictions, taxes & fees

Fee	Amount	When	Source	Verified
Tourist Tax (Hotel) Recently changed Overnight tourist tax (toeristenbelasting) charged at 12.5% of the room rate excluding VAT — the highest in Europe. Applied to hotels, B&Bs, short-term rentals and guesthouses. How: Collected by the accommodation provider and remitted to the City of Amsterdam	12.50 EUR	Every overnight stay, year-round	NL Times	2026-05-05
Cruise Day Tourist Tax Recently changed Per-passenger day visitor tax for sea and river cruise passengers stopping in Amsterdam (age 2+). Crew exempt. Rate is €15 per passenger per day in 2026 (up from €14.50 in 2025). How: Declared and paid by the cruise operator via Port of Amsterdam within one month of departure	15.00 EUR	Each port call, per passenger per 24-hour period	Port of Amsterdam (official)	2026-05-04
Holiday Rental Permit & 30-Night Cap Annual permit required to rent out a primary residence to tourists, capped at 30 nights per calendar year (15 nights in parts of Centrum and De Pijp), maximum 4 guests at a time. Each booking must be reported to the city in advance. How: Apply for permit on amsterdam.nl; report each rental period before guest arrival	76.00 EUR	Any short-term rental of an entire home or houseboat to tourists	Skift	2026-05-04
Red Light District Tour Ban / Group Cap Guided tours past sex workers' windows in De Wallen are banned. Tour groups in the city centre are capped at 4 people, and operators must hold a permit. Fine of €190 per offence; repeat offenders face €2,500–€7,500 penalties. How: Fine issued on the spot by enforcement officers	190.00 EUR	All organised guided tours in the De Wallen red light district, year-round	Skift	2026-05-04
Public Nuisance Fines (Stay Away enforcement) On-the-spot fines targeting nuisance behaviour by tourists: €140 for public urination or noise, €95 for public drinking, plus a public smoking-cannabis ban in parts of the city centre. Enforced via the Stay Away campaign. How: Mobile on-the-spot payment to police	140.00 EUR	Year-round in the city centre, Red Light District, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein	Skift	2026-05-04