Amsterdam's raising tourist taxes — again. Here's what it will cost you.
We're just a couple of months away from New Year's resolutions. What are you looking forward to in 2020?
Amsterdam, for one, has its answer all ready to go: The Dutch capital will raise its tourism taxes come January 1.
Amsterdam will charge a flat fee of €3 — around $3.25 USD — per person, per night for any visitor staying in a hotel, on top of the existing 7% hotel tax per room, up from 2018's 6% (3% outside of the city center).
Switching to Airbnb in protest? You'll be paying an increased 10% tax per night on homeshare stays. Tourists staying in Airbnb rentals will also play an increased rent of 10% per night. Even opting outside won't get you away from the fees: campsites will charge €1 per person, per night.
This means that, in 2020, tourists who spend a week in a hotel that costs $130/night will end up paying extra taxes worth nearly as much as the cost of an additional night's stay.
"The fact is that numbers are growing," a spokesperson said on behalf of the Amsterdam deputy mayor. "You can't build a fence around the city, and we don't want that either. Increasing the tax isn't to affect the number of visitors, but it's the principle. It costs a lot to keep our city clean and safe, and our infrastructure — like bridges — in a good state."
On average, the new tourism fees "will likely make Amsterdam's the highest overnight tax in Europe," according to Tim Fairhurst, director of policy for the European Tourism Association. Or as this Australian news outlet so elegantly put it, "Amsterdam is tired of being Amstercram, so you're going to pay for it."
Amsterdam's been struggling with its overtourism issue for some time now. According to census calculations, less than 900,000 people live within its city limits, while annual visitors surpass that number by more than 2,000%. The city removed its famous "I Amsterdam" sign in Dec. 2018, due to complaints from locals who couldn't get past hordes of tourists taking selfies.
And for several years, Amsterdam has repeatedly cracked down on various aspects of the tourism industry including beer bikes and tours of its notorious red light district, while levying stricter and more expensive restrictions on many forms of short-term housing.
On the flip side, other aspects of the travel industry suggest that visitors aren't altogether unwelcome: the nation's flagship carrier KLM, for instance, just added a direct route between Amsterdam and Austin, Texas.
The Netherlands capital isn't the only destination struggling to balance its visitors and its books. Dozens of other European cities levy various overnight, hotel and VAT taxes including Rotterdam; Venice; the German cities of Dortmund, Berlin, Bonn and Bremen; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Bucharest, Romania; Brussels, Belgium; Milan, Florence and Naples in Italy; and many others in France, Switzerland and beyond.
| Destination | Hotel Tax |
|---|---|
Dortmund, Germany | 7.5% |
Amsterdam, Netherlands | 7% |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 6.5% |
Berlin, Germany | 5% |
Bonn, Germany | 5% |
Bremen, Germany | 5% |
Budapest, Hungary | 4% |
Vienna, Austria | 3.2% |
Bucharest, Romania | 1% |
More than 40 countries in the world charge visitors a fee for entering their borders. Outside of the European Union, Bali, Croatia, Japan and New Zealand have all implemented tourist taxes in recent months. Some places include hefty fees for misbehaviors — a measure Amsterdam has also tried to enforce.
And Bhutan famously charges the world's highest flat rate tourism tax of up to $250 per day, although the package rate includes a minimum of three-star accommodations, a licensed tour guide, all meals and transportation and any necessary camping equipment.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.