Amsterdam PvdA Proposes Tourist Ban in City-Centre Coffeeshops

Amsterdam’s PvdA (Labour) wants to stop international tourists from using coffeeshops in the old city centre, including the Red Light District, and to relocate part of the sector to less-crowded areas. The plan appears in the party’s draft programme for the March 2026 local elections and aims to cut nuisance, spread visitors more evenly, and improve liveability for residents. Local outlet Het Parool first reported the proposal; NL Times summarised the party’s stance and noted the centre-focused scope.

Amsterdam currently does not enforce the national “resident-only” rule for coffeeshops (the so-called i-criterium), unlike border cities such as Maastricht. The European Court of Justice has previously confirmed that towns may lawfully ban non-residents from coffee shops to limit drug tourism, a legal backdrop that would support any centre-area pilot if the city chooses to proceed.

What happens next depends on coalition talks and legal design. GroenLinks (which will form a joint list with PvdA in 2026) has not backed a blanket tourist ban, but does support spreading coffeeshops citywide. D66 has opposed tourist bans in the past. Any local rule would need careful drafting to avoid displacement effects (for example, more street dealing) and to coordinate with national cannabis rules and the ongoing regulated-supply pilot.

The move comes amid wider efforts to manage visitor pressure. A group of residents is suing the city over tourism levels, arguing a self-imposed cap on overnight stays (20 million) has been exceeded for years; they also propose banning tourists from coffeeshops as one of several measures.