Frustrated by rising tourist crowds and inaction from local officials, Amsterdam residents are turning to the courts in a new push to reclaim their neighborhoods from overtourism.
Amsterdam residents are running out of patience with the city council. In two separate cases, groups of citizens are taking legal action against the city due to overtourism concerns. In one case, residents of the Negen Straatjes neighborhood are taking the city to court over the license of a popular fries shop. In the other, a citizens’ initiative, Amsterdam Heeft een Keuze (Amsterdam Has a Choice), has sent the municipality a legal notice for exceeding the limit on overnight stays.
Amsterdam has been battling overtourism for years. The Dutch city has capped overnight stays at 20 million, restricted the opening hours of bars in the city center, banned weed smoking in the Red Light District, among other measures. It charges the highest tourist tax in Europe, but the influx of tourists hasn’t slowed. Frustrated by the crowds and noise, residents are demanding more from the city—and making themselves heard through legal action.
Related: Amsterdam Has a New Target in Overtourism Battle — Hotels
TikTok vs. Locals
A TikTok-famous fries shop, Fabel Friet, draws hordes of tourists to the picturesque Negen Straatjes neighborhood in the historic center. But according to longtime residents, it has become a nuisance. A group of 20 residents has challenged the shop’s operating license, hoping to force the business to shut down.
Fabel Friet opened in 2020 and quickly went viral. It has since expanded to two additional locations, but the original spot remains a tourist favorite. When its license was renewed in 2024, the city concluded the shop was not negatively affecting the living environment, but required extra measures like crowd control. However, residents don’t believe those efforts are sufficient—they want the shop gone. They say patrons block sidewalks and leave behind trash that overflows public bins, degrading their quality of life. Steve Malenka, one of the residents who sued the city, said, “Why hasn’t the city taken steps to get this under control? Amsterdam has become a carnival.”
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The owners disagree with this assessment. Co-owner Abel Klatser said they employ staff to manage crowds and work with a social enterprise, Stichting Koffiehuis, to empty trash cans and collect litter. He told local newspaper Het Parool that they are also a local business employing Amsterdammers. “We’re proud of what we’ve built and we want to keep doing this for a long time.”
Follow Your Own Rules
Amsterdam Heeft een Keuze has sent a legal notice to the city for exceeding the number of permitted overnight stays. In 2020, the group organized a petition against mass tourism that was signed by 30,000 Amsterdammers. In response, the city introduced a 2021 policy to cap overnight stays at 20 million per year. According to the city’s own website, action must be taken if the number reaches 18 million. However, overnight stays surpassed 23 million last year and are projected to exceed 25 million in the coming years.
Jasper van Dijk, one of the group’s founders, said they have been patient as visitor numbers have repeatedly surpassed the limit. “We have no option but to take legal steps.” A formal notice was sent to Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki of Economic Affairs, who said he will meet with the campaigners again.
