In its fight against mass tourism, Amsterdam in the Netherlands will no longer allow new hotel buildings to be built, the local government has mandated.

According to reports, the city council has decided that a new hotel in Amsterdam can only be built if another hotel closes, if the number of sleeping places does not increase and if the new hotel will be better, for example more sustainable.

“We want to make and keep the city liveable for residents and visitors. This means no over-tourism, no new hotels, and no more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year,” the statement by city council says.

However, the new rule does not apply to new hotels that had already secured a permit.

This is the latest in a series of measures the Dutch capital has taken to mitigate the issue of over-tourism in the city. Amsterdam also banned the use of marijuana on public streets in the red light district and ended guided tours that passed by sex workers’ windows.

Under a 2021 ordinance called “Amsterdam Tourism in Balance,” the city council is “obliged to intervene” when tourism numbers reach 18 million people, the statement adds.