Thursday 12 November

The Amsterdam city council is weighing a plan to raise tourist taxes to 20% by 2031 to combat the persistent strain of overtourism. Critics, however, warn that such a levy could stifle local commerce without effectively managing the city's overflowing visitor numbers. Read more →

In a display of democratic defiance, the Amsterdam city council has voted to sue over new operational rules at Schiphol Airport, directly opposing their own alderman. Council members are determined to secure a night-flight ban and lower total air traffic to protect residents from noise pollution. Read more →

To shield 1.4 million residents from extreme weather, the Amstel, Gooi en Vecht Water Board has designated the De Ronde Hoep polder as an emergency overflow zone. A comprehensive compensation plan for farmers ensures that the city remains dry even if the low-lying basin must be intentionally flooded. Read more →

The Amsterdam city council has formally scrapped fines for sleeping in public spaces, codifying a shift in policy that began in 2025. While the city hopes this humanitarian move will ease the burden on the homeless, opposition critics fear it may normalize homelessness and complicate urban management. Read more →

A 17-year-old has been sentenced to the maximum two-year term in juvenile detention for the violent robbery and sexual assault of sex workers in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. His adult accomplice, 34-year-old Soufiane el A., received a 10-year prison sentence for his role in the January crimes. Read more →