The mayor of Haarlemmermeer is to impose a temporary ban on taxi touts at Schiphol airport, reports the NOS broadcaster. He has also called for a permanent change to the taxi laws.

For months, there has been a standoff at Schiphol, with certain taxi firms licensed by the airport to pick up passengers but others legally plying for work in the public plaza.

In October, British singer Skin from the band Skunk Anansie criticised the airport for allowing travellers to be ‘harassed’ by touts wearing ‘official taxi’ high-vis vests. Other tourists have reported being charged hundreds of euros for a trip to Amsterdam, which normally costs around €50.

But now Theo Weterings, mayor of the Haarlemmermeer area including the airport, has said the municipality will adjust certain bylaws to stop the touts and only allow taxis with an official concession to work at Schiphol. ‘A municipality can do this if it can show nuisance is being caused,’ he told NOS. ‘And we can. But this is not a structural solution as you cannot change the taxi law permanently with this amendment.’

Schiphol airport and junior infrastructure minister Sharon Dijksma have also called the situation ‘untenable’ and are working towards a swift solution.