Ban on Airbnb on
the Red Light District and part of the canal belt
Amsterdam will ban holiday rentals on the Red Light
District and part of the canal belt. These are the areas where the quality of
life is normally under severe pressure from tourism. This is the first time
that the municipality has imposed a ban.
Michiel Couzy16
april 2020, 10:20
Amsterdam will
introduce a licensing system for Airbnb.
PICTURE ANP
The ban will take
place on 1 July, councillor Laurens Ivens announced on Thursday morning.
Overall, the ban applies in postcode areas 1012 and 1017. Then it concerns the
Red Light District, the area around the Oudezijds Achterburgwal
and Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the southern part of the
canal belt, roughly between the Amstel and the
Leidsegracht..
Research shows
that in these areas the pressure of tourism is normally very high, which puts
severe pressure on residents. "Residents should be able to live
comfortably in their own neighbourhood," ivens said. "On the street
they already have to deal with the consequences of tourism. It is therefore
important that residents in their own living environment do not experience
nuisance from tourists. The aim of this measure is to contribute to this."
25,000 ads
Rentals to
tourists have increased enormously in Amsterdam in recent years. One in 15
homes has been on Airbnb. The offer of
holiday rentals has grown to about 25,000 advertisements per month on various
sites. In the coalition agreement, GroenLinks, PvdA, D66 and SP had already
agreed to introduce bans on holiday rentals in overcrowded areas, but it was
not yet clear how and whether it would be legally feasible.
A recent ruling by the Council of State offers an
opening. It follows that holiday rentals are only possible with a permit.
Amsterdam does not currently have a licensing system, which effectively makes
all rentals to tourists illegal. The municipality has decided to introduce a
licensing system as of 1 July. Landlords on the Red Light District and in the
southern part of the canal belt will not be licensed, effectively introducing
the ban. It does not specify whether the ban also applies to people who offer a
room or part of their home through, for example, Airbnb. On its website, the
municipality defines holiday rentalas 'you rent out your entire property and
you are not at home when your guests are in the house.'
Ban in corona
time
The
municipality's measure comes at a time when tourism in the city is at a
standstill due to the corona crisis. There is hardly any mention of holiday
rentals, several homeowners are now offering their property for longer-term
rentals, for example about three months, in the hope that tourism will get back
on track.
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