In almost all municipalities in Netherlands, you have to pay tourist/ city tax if you stay there overnight. Taxes are used to improve the city and its facilities. The tourist tax rates differ per city, with the highest (12,5%) city tax in Amsterdam.
Tourist tax in the Netherlands: good to know
- Tourist tax is a municipal tax, charged to visitors from outside the city.
- The tax applies to all kind of accommodations: hotels, apartments, B&B’s, holiday rentals and campsites.
- It is typically charged on a per person, per night basis.
- Some hotels have lower tax rates for guests aged 16 and under (but some don’t).
City tax in the Netherlands in 2026: what’s new
In 2026, Amsterdam’s city tax for overnight stays remains 12,5% of the overnight price (excluding VAT). However, the total cost for accommodation will rise significantly, due to a national increase in the VAT rate from 9% to 21%.
- Hotels and other types of accommodation: The tourist tax is 12,5% of the accommodation price (excluding VAT). This is a municipal tax that goes to the City of Amsterdam. The national increase of the VAT on hotel accommodation from 9% to 21% will make the overall combined tax rate on accommodation approximately 33,5%.
- Cruise passengers: The day tourist tax (or port tax) for river and sea cruise passengers will be €15 per passenger in 2026 (compared to €14,50 in 2025).
- Boats and city tours: The tax for boat and city tours will increase to €2,70 per person in 2026.
Photo: hotel Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg
Tourist/ hotel tax rates in the Netherlands
The city tax rates in 2025 are:
- Amsterdam: 12,5% of the overnight rate, excluding VAT (so around 10,33% of the room bill with VAT).
Tip! If you are looking for moderate price range hotels in Amsterdam, we recommend Leonardo Hotels, StayOkay hostel Vondelpark, Hotel Eden.
- Schiphol airport: tax percentage is 6,29 % of the overnight rate, excluding VAT. Check hotels at Schiphol.
- Zaandam: € 7,71 per person, per night. Check hotels in Zaandam (12 minutes by train to Amsterdam).
Visiting the Netherlands in summer? Make sure you also book tickets to the popular museums (the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum) and international train tickets from Amsterdam to Paris, Brussels, Bruges in advance.
Photo: Inntel Hotels Zaandam
- Haarlem: €5 per person per night. Check hotels in Haarlem (19 minutes by train to Amsterdam).
- Zandvoort: (beach place near Amsterdam) €3,50 per person per night. Check hotels in Zandvoort (30 minutes by train to Amsterdam).
- Lisse (the Keukenhof village): €3,25 per person per night.
- Texel island: €3,50 per person per night. Check availability.
Photo: Texel island
When you book you hotel at Booking.com, you can always clearly see the amount of the city tax.
Example 1: city tax in a hotel in Amsterdam:
Example 2: city tax in a hotel in Zandvoort (1 night, 2 persons):
FAQ
It varies per hotel and sometimes also depends on your booking and payment method. In most hotels in Amsterdam you can pay the city tax both in cash and by card. If you want to know for sure, it’s best to get in touch with your hotel and check with them directly.
Yes, if you rent a hotel in Amsterdam, you will have to pay the city tax, unless you’re an Amsterdam resident (officially registered at an address in Amsterdam).
No, all guests, including business travelers, are required to pay the city tax in Amsterdam.
In most cases you don’t pay tax when booking a room. You pay it directly to the hotel when you check in or check out. Depending on the hotel it is sometimes possible the full room rate online, including all taxes, at Booking.com.
Anyway, Booking.com will always indicate if the city tax needs to be paid separately at the hotel. You will find this information in your booking confirmation.
Yes, the transit sea cruise and river cruise passengers, for whom Amsterdam is a stopover, have to pay Day Tourist tax. The tax rate in 2025 is € 14,50 per person from 2 years old, per day (24 hours, or a part of it). Crew members are excluded from tourist tax. The captain takes care of the tax declaration. You can find more details on the official website of Port of Amsterdam.
We recommend Tours & Tickets, a local Amsterdam-based tour company, and two reputable tickets websites Tiqets.com and GetYourGuide.com.
Have a nice time in Amsterdam!
Related articles:
- What is included in the I amsterdam city card?
- Amsterdam public transport tickets
- How to use public transport in Amsterdam?
- How to travel from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam city center?
- Rooftop restaurants in Amsterdam
- De 9 Straatjes – Amsterdam’s Nine streets
- KLM houses walk in Amsterdam
About the author:
All the articles in this guide are written by me. I do my best to keep them regularly updated so you always have the most current information. If you find Amsterdam Explorer helpful, you can support the project by spreading the word. Tell your friends and fellow travelers, or share a link on travel forums, your website, or social media. The only way I can compete with the big commercial websites is with your help. Thank you!