No New Hotels in Amsterdam - Point in Setlist to combat excessive tourism

 

The Dutch city of Amsterdam will no longer allow the construction of new hotel buildings as part of its fight against mass tourism, the local government announced on Wednesday.

“We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors. This means: no over-tourism, no new hotels and no more than 20 million hotel nights by tourists per year," a statement said.

A new hotel in Amsterdam can only be built if another hotel closes, if the number of accommodation places does not increase, and if the new hotel will be better – for example, more sustainable.

However, the rule does not apply to new hotels that have already obtained a permit.

The city has actively tried to limit the number of tourists, which amount to several million a year, mainly by discouraging sex and drug tourism in the red light district.

Easter 2024 in Amsterdam with children

Amsterdam with children

Easter is also a holiday period. As Rembrandt and Van Gogh are always boring to children and young people, here are some tips on what to do with young visitors to the city for a change.

► The Zoo – Also called ARTIS for short – is of course a classic for children. A zoo definitely worth seeing in Amsterdam, Plantation Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam. Tickets are available here.

► Nemo – Nemo Science Museum is a fantastic playground, as you can participate in all the experiments from the world of biology, technology, physics and chemistry. Like a boat, the museum is clearly visible about a 15-minute walk from the central station. Nemo Science Museum Tickets.

► Vondelpark – Amsterdam’s best-known and most popular park Perfect for a break for adults and a bit of relaxation for children. There is also inexpensive accommodation for families. Hostel StayOkay Vondelpark.

► Canals – Canal tours are very popular with young and old. With a travel time of 60 to 75 minutes, even children and young people will not be bored. My tip for children is to take a ride in the pancake boat, Pannenkoekenboot. It is also broadcast at Easter.

► AMAZE – Maybe not for toddlers, but young people will certainly get excited about this audiovisual experience. AMAZE – open until late evening. Located between the central station and the maritime museum.

► Minigolf in the Dark – 3D black light minigolf is an exciting variation on classic minigolf. Lots of fun for the whole family, for example when you don't know what to do in bad weather. Tickets for Powerzone are already available here, De Ruijterkade 153, 1011 AC Amsterdam. Alternatively, play at Glowgolf Amsterdam, Prins Hendrikkade 194 1011 AC Amsterdam – Entrance via Noah’s Arq restaurant. Opposite the Maritime Museum.

Easter in Amsterdam and Keukenhof

Dutch holidaymakers in particular like to use the offer around Easter to celebrate a traditional Passover according to the Dutch model, in the immediate vicinity of the flowers. Even more colorful than the specially organized Easter markets, nature turns out to be even more colorful at the start of spring. Every year, tulip fields in Holland bloom around Easter. However, the variety of flowers is not limited to tulips. Daffodils, imperial crowns and hyacinths perfectly complement the flower fields.

Dutch tulip growers like to present their most beautiful flowers and floral creations in their own pavilions. The best place to admire the whole variety of flowers with your own eyes is the famous Keukenhof near Amsterdam. This year, Easter is the peak of tulip bloom, making it an ideal time for an excursion to the unique Lisse Flower Park.

Easter 2024 in Amsterdam

Easter in Amsterdam: Restaurant opening hours

For lovers of good food, Easter in Amsterdam is the ideal opportunity to discover Dutch Easter cuisine. Breakfast, in particular, is always long and is taken with friends and family. The traditional Easter breakfast in the Netherlands does not include meat of different kinds like in Germany.

Only when the traditional Easter Stollen, consisting of currant bread with almond filling, is served does it truly become a typical Dutch Easter breakfast. Easter Stollen is completed with hard-boiled eggs, whose shells have been broken by the egg tik or which land on the breakfast table after being rummaged.

Due to the general rush of Easter-only tourists, restaurants, cafes and pubs opened during the Easter holidays. Amsterdam is best known for its Indonesian cuisine.

Easter store opening hours in Amsterdam

A completely different tradition, which can be quite strange for Dutch tourists, is visiting the furniture store. Although the annual trip to furniture stores only began in the 1980s, many Dutch people find themselves among upholstered suites, fitted kitchens and bedroom wardrobes around Easter.

The rush for new furniture during the Easter period is sometimes so strong that large furniture stores attract additional customers with their own discount campaigns and deep price reductions. However, due to the rush, the high volume of traffic in commercial areas of large cities can regularly cause traffic jams.

While in France, all public life will be at rest on Good Friday April 2, 2021, in the Netherlands, only authorities and public offices will be closed. Stores are open in most cities. In Amsterdam, for example, you can shop during the Easter weekend. On Good Friday there is even the famous Albert Cuyp market in the De Pijp district, as usual.

In general, opening hours are more liberal in the Netherlands than in France. Stores can also open on public holidays. A considerable number of stores will therefore be open, especially in large cities like Amsterdam. This also applies to the popular district of Jordaan.

Public transport at Easter in Amsterdam

The entire public transport network is in operation during the Easter holidays, although Amsterdam is a very easy city to explore on foot. Regular weekend and holiday hours apply. This may mean lower frequencies for the metro, tram, bus and train.

If you are in a hurry, you will always find a taxi, even those that are a little more expensive in the canal city. Tickets for public transport are also available directly here. For holders of the I am Amsterdam discount card, the use of public transport is already included.

Easter in Amsterdam 2024

Save money with discount cards

Easter in Amsterdam can be expensive. When planning your trip, you need to think about everything you want to do and visit and calculate whether it would be wise to buy a suitable discount card. Tiqets’ Amsterdam Pass is a good example. It is perfect for those who do not yet know Amsterdam, as it contains everything necessary for beginners. There is also an article about this discount card.

Easter in Amsterdam: Easter customs in the Netherlands

Although Easter is quite similar in Germany and the Netherlands, some customs differ considerably. A typical custom is beating hard-boiled eggs. However, “Eitje tik” is not only practiced as a family for fun. In the Netherlands, entire competitions revolve around the hard-boiled egg. All participants in the competitions take a hard-boiled egg in their hands and then hit the opponent's egg with the pointed side. The loser of the competition is the competitor whose eggshell breaks first.

However, the egg is not only destroyed in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands. After the sumptuous Easter meal, the Dutch set out on an Easter hunt. The search for small colored eggs is particularly popular with children. Although many hard-boiled eggs are hidden, the Dutch do not look for them very carefully. It can therefore happen that Easter eggs remain hidden until summer without us noticing.

There's a lot going on in Amsterdam at the moment. A city tour is a unique spectacle. The unique canal city is favored by countless tourists during Easter and the rush of visitors is much stronger than usual. This is why there are long queues and endless waiting times outside the city's main sites and attractions.

It is also recommended to visit Amsterdam during Easter week, but getting tickets in advance without queuing is highly recommended. In my article Amsterdam Online Tour Tickets you will find recommendations for purchasing tickets in advance.

If you are traveling by car, it is important to check Amsterdam parking and reserve a parking space in advance. It is recommended to take the train, as the Central Station is located in the center of Amsterdam. Plane tickets can be booked directly here on:

Amsterdam is one of the top destinations for city travelers this Easter. In addition to air or train travel, hotels, hostels, apartments, guesthouses, holiday apartments or other accommodation must be booked well in advance. The demand is huge and the Netherlands' largest city isn't exactly cheap. You can usually find offers on the many relevant Internet portals.

You can find my top 10 hotels in Amsterdam in the accommodation category on this site. If you are traveling by car and perhaps even looking for accommodation with free parking, you will find some suggestions in the same section.