Amsterdam city council is slashing the number of days people can rent out their homes via holiday rental platforms like Airbnb from 60 to 30 days from next year.

The city’s executive board decided on Wednesday to back the measure, which was put forward by housing alderman Laurens Ivens.

‘I recognize that reducing the length of time is not the solution to city congestion but it will reduce the problems caused by tourists in some areas and will make it less inviting to use your home as a way to earn money,’ he said.

Amsterdammers who own their own home or who have permission from their landlord can currently rent their home out for 60 nights a year. They have to register with the council and can have no more than four people staying in the property.

At the end of last year, newspaper Trouw claimed almost 5,000 Amsterdam apartments, houses and houseboats are permanently rented out to tourists and a further 1,000 owners break other rules, such as allowing more than four guests at one time.

Airbnb disputes this. It says fewer than 5% of the Amsterdam apartments on offer flout the rules.

Favouring hotels

Public policy manager Bo de Koning said in an emailed statement that ‘the Airbnb community – which consists of 19,000 Amsterdam hosts – is disappointed by your announcement this morning to favour big hotels over local families who occasionally share their homes.’

‘Further restricting the rights of regular people to share their homes could take €43m out of the local economy and drive more guests into crowded tourist
hotspots,’ De Koning said.

‘Such a move is also legally untenable according to legal experts, as it disproportionately infringes Amsterdammers’ rights to property and the freedom to provide services.’