Amsterdam is preparing for a significant change in the cost of visiting the Dutch capital, with the city’s tourist tax scheduled to rise from 12.5% in 2026 to 20% by 2031. The increase is part of a new coalition agreement between PRO Amsterdam and D66 and will affect travellers staying in hotels, hostels, guesthouses, apartments, holiday rentals, bed and breakfasts and campsites.
For anyone planning a city break, the change is straightforward to understand: the longer-term accommodation bill in Amsterdam is set to include a substantially larger municipal tourism charge, making it an increasingly important part of trip budgeting.
Tourist Tax Will Rise in Stages From 2027
Amsterdam’s current overnight tourist tax is 12.5% of the accommodation price, excluding VAT. From 2027, the rate is scheduled to increase to 16%, followed by annual increases of one percentage point until it reaches 20% in 2031.
That means the planned progression is 16% in 2027, 17% in 2028, 18% in 2029, 19% in 2030 and 20% in 2031.
The municipality currently also applies a €15 daily tourist tax per cruise passenger visiting Amsterdam, effective from 2026.
Hotel Stays Will Carry a Higher Combined Tax Burden
The tourist tax increase comes alongside a nationwide change to the VAT applied to hotel accommodation. Dutch hotel stays moved from a 9% VAT rate to 21% in 2026.
By 2031, the combination of the planned 20% Amsterdam tourist tax and 21% national VAT would produce a 41% tax burden on the hotel room price when the two rates are combined in the same calculation.
For travellers, the practical impact will depend on accommodation prices and how individual booking platforms display taxes and charges. Checking the final price before confirming a hotel, apartment or other accommodation will become increasingly important for Amsterdam trips.
Amsterdam Links Higher Charges to Visitor Management
The planned increase is connected to Amsterdam’s wider visitor-management policy. The city has maintained a target of no more than 20 million overnight stays annually, although that level has repeatedly been exceeded.
The new coalition agreement includes measures intended to manage visitor volumes while increasing tourism-related municipal revenue. The additional tourist-tax revenue is expected to reach approximately €60 million annually in 2027 and around €75 million in 2030.
What the Higher Tax Means for Amsterdam Travellers
Amsterdam remains one of Europe’s major urban tourism destinations, attracting visitors for its canals, museums, historic neighbourhoods, architecture, cultural attractions and nightlife.
Travellers typically use Amsterdam Schiphol Airport as the main international gateway. Amsterdam Centraal provides extensive rail connections, while the city’s tram, metro, bus and cycling networks make it possible to reach major visitor areas without relying on private cars.
With accommodation costs becoming more sensitive to tax changes, travellers can compare hotels across neighbourhoods, check whether quoted prices include tourist tax and consider travelling outside peak periods when room rates may be lower.
Central Amsterdam Remains a Major Visitor Hub
The city centre continues to concentrate many of Amsterdam’s most recognisable attractions. Visitors can explore the canal belt, Dam Square, the Jordaan, Museumplein and the historic streets surrounding Amsterdam Centraal.
The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum anchor the Museumplein area, while canal cruises provide another way to experience the historic cityscape.
For travellers staying several nights, Amsterdam can also serve as a base for excursions to destinations including Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Utrecht and the Dutch coast, with many reachable by public transport or train.
Amsterdam’s Tourism Policy Extends Beyond Overnight Tax
The tourist-tax increase is one part of a broader tourism-management programme. The new coalition has also proposed measures affecting cruise tourism and tourist-oriented businesses in the historic centre. The plans include moving the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam out of the city and expanding charges affecting day visitors.
These measures place greater emphasis on managing the scale and distribution of visitor activity rather than focusing only on overnight accommodation.
Key Stats
- Amsterdam tourist tax in 2026: 12.5%
- Planned 2027 rate: 16%
- Planned 2031 rate: 20%
- Annual increase after 2027: 1 percentage point
- Amsterdam daily cruise tourist tax: €15 per passenger
- National Dutch hotel VAT from 2026: 21%
- Combined 2031 tax calculation: 41%
- Amsterdam overnight-stay target: 20 million
- Expected tourist-tax revenue in 2030: about €75 million
Conclusion
Amsterdam’s tourist tax is entering a new phase, with the overnight rate scheduled to rise from 12.5% in 2026 to 20% by 2031. For travellers, the change means accommodation taxes will need to be considered more carefully when planning a Dutch capital city break. At the same time, Amsterdam is expanding its wider visitor-management measures as it seeks to regulate tourism volumes, manage urban pressures and reshape how visitors experience one of Europe’s most popular destinations.
