Amsterdam now has a court OK to continue its 2017 ban on new tourist-oriented shops in the city’s center, a ban imposed to keep tourist trade from driving out the everyday shops of all kinds needed by Amsterdamers.
The country’s highest administrative court has rejected a suit brought by several retail chains including Tours&Tickets and Amsterdam Cheese Company. Since the imposition of the ban, no new waffle companies, bike rental stops or souvenir stores have been opened in the area. Existing businesses are grandfathered.
The companies claimed that the rule is in conflict with EU rules on services, but the Council of State ruled that the city is permitted to take action to protect the interests of the residents and workers of Amsterdam. Even with the ban, the city center area has an estimated 280 tourist shops.
