Visiting Amsterdam? Here Are 5 Rules Travelers Need To Know

Amsterdam is making five changes relating to tourists visiting the Dutch capital, which travelers need to know. Each year, this popular city attracts more than 20 million tourists, which means it is one of the most popular destinations. However, the city wants to change its image and is getting fussy about the type of tourists it wishes to attract.

Amsterdam to drop its reputation for drugs, Red Light District and more

Like many popular cities in Europe, Amsterdam wants to change the way people visit the Dutch city and how they behave. It doesn’t want to completely chase people away, but people’s attitudes seriously need to change.

DW News spoke to one Amsterdam resident, Els Iping, who clarified the situation nicely. She said she would like to stop regularly cleaning tourists’ vomit from her front steps. Instead, she would like to see more travelers appreciating her city and its historic charm.

As Amsterdam makes new rules to protect the city’s livability, travelers will start feeling the backlash. Basically, with the new changes, visitors to the city need to know when and where they are allowed to enjoy the city’s lively nightlife and its famous coffeeshop culture. The following are five changes that tourists need to know before heading to the Dutch capital this summer.

1. Amsterdam bans smoking cannabis in public

On May 25, 2023, the city announced that visitors cannot use “soft drugs” like marijuana in the historic city center, including Dam Square, Nieuwmarkt and the Red Light District. Except for designated cannabis coffeeshops, anyone caught ignoring the ban will receive a spot fine of €100 ($111).

2. Plans to stop coffee shops selling marijuana to tourists.

This rule was already in place but is being enforced for the first time. Technically, Amsterdam’s famed cannabis coffeeshops are only allowed to sell to Dutch customers. While up until now this was considered as a suggestion, now sales to foreigners are to be banned.

While cannabis isn’t legal in the Netherlands, it has for some time adhered to a policy of “Gedoogbeleid,” or tolerance. However, with the new rules against selling to tourists, this is changing.

A recent survey revealed that 50 percent of the city’s 20 million annual tourists say that visiting the coffeeshops is their main reason for being there. However, while tourism is worth $1.4 billion dollars to the city, it isn’t clear if it will stick to this rule.

3. Fines for rowdy partygoers

The following are the latest city penalties against rowdy partygoers, in the hopes of keeping the streets clean for everyone:

• €100 ($111) for drunkenness
• €150 ($167) for noise pollution
• €150 ($167) for public urination
• €150 ($167) for littering

4. Red Light District early closing

Under new restrictions, restaurants, bars and sex shows in the Red Light District have to close at 2 am. Meanwhile, brothel closing times have been changed from 6 am to 3 am. This change is aimed at giving irritated locals a good night’s sleep, but has caught a few revelers by surprise recently.

5. ‘Stay Away’ PSAs and ‘Stop de gekte’ campaigns

Anyone who has seen these PSAs and campaigns might feel less than welcome in Amsterdam. These include neighborhood patrol members in yellow vests, warning visitors who are getting out of control to respect the locals’ peace and property. Please note, the video below contains strong language.

The “Stay Away” campaign videos doing the rounds are mostly aimed at young male British tourists booking budget accommodations and going on pub crawls. However, the videos can make other visitors feel less than welcome. However, Amsterdam is happy to welcome anyone if they know how to behave and are respectful.

Tourists should ‘behave normally’

As noted on the city’s visitor information website, “Amsterdammers live in every neighborhood, including the Red Light District and Leidsepleing.” If tourists are prepared to behave normally, they are more than welcome.

Basically, the city’s tourism page sums it up perfectly: “Limit noise and drunkenness, clean up your mess, and don’t pee in the canals. Keep in mind the locals, and they will welcome you with open arms.”

Those travelers seeking to enjoy Amsterdam’s beauty and museums while partying respectfully are fully welcome.