Mayor issues policy on closure and reopenings

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema put new policy rules into force on Sept. 3 governing when the city can close and later reopen homes, businesses and other premises tied to drugs, violence and public-order risks. The decision was published on the Dutch local-regulations platform as the “Beleidsregels sluitingen en heropeningen Amsterdam,” or Amsterdam policy rules on closures and reopenings. The rules restate and update how the mayor uses powers under Article 13b of the Opium Act, Articles 172, 174a and 175 of the Municipalities Act, and Article 2.10 of Amsterdam’s 2008 local ordinance. The previous version applied from Feb. 1, 2023 through Sept. 2, 2026, and the new text took effect on Sept. 3, 2026. ### Which powers does the policy bring together? The Sept. 3 decision says the policy covers closures of public and non-public premises, homes, rooms and related yards under three legal tracks. Article 13b of the Opium Act allows the mayor to close premises where drugs are sold, delivered, supplied or kept for that purpose, according to the text. Articles 172, 174a and 175 of the Municipalities Act give the mayor order-maintenance powers, while Article 2.10 of the Amsterdam ordinance provides closure grounds including illegal gambling, handling stolen goods, discrimination, weapons and other circumstances. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The policy says the aim of a closure is to restore public order immediately and create a period of calm. The 2023 version, whose wording is reflected in the updated structure, says a closure is also meant to end the violation and reduce the risk of repetition. ### When does Amsterdam warn first instead of closing immediately? The policy table published with the new text says occupied homes tied to hard or soft drugs generally get a warning first, unless aggravating circumstances are present. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The same published structure distinguishes those homes from unoccupied homes, where the policy provides for closure. The text also sets out a separate section on “bestuurlijke waarschuwing,” or administrative warning, and a section on “belangenafweging,” the balancing of interests. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) Those headings indicate the mayor will weigh elapsed time, the circumstances of affected parties and special circumstances involving the property owner before deciding how to use the power. ### What kinds of places and conduct are covered beyond drug cases? (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The published contents show the policy extends beyond drug offences to public-order cases under the Municipalities Act and the local ordinance. One section covers serious nuisance, another covers serious violence or a serious fear of it, and another covers weapon finds and the public-order test under Article 174a of the Municipalities Act. Article 2.10 of the Amsterdam ordinance is listed as a closure basis for illegal gambling, stolen goods including fencing, discrimination, weapons, explosions and shootings from outside, illegal labor, exploitation, very serious violent incidents, money laundering and other circumstances. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The table of contents also includes sections on permit consequences and consequences for tolerated locations, including coffeeshops. ### How does the policy describe the closure process? The new text includes sections on the procedure for closure, including the opportunity to submit views, the closure order and brochure, execution of the closure, and registration in the buildings registry. It also includes a section on closure duration, showing the city treats the length of a closure as a separate policy choice rather than an automatic consequence. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) A separate chapter in the Sept. 3 policy covers early reopening requests for homes and for premises with public or non-public establishments and rooms. Another section covers temporary entries, indicating the city has set out a route for limited access even after a closure order has been imposed. ### What changed on Sept. 3? The local-regulations platform marks the new Amsterdam policy as “geldig vanaf 03-09-2026,” or valid from Sept. 3, 2026. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The prior version on the same platform is marked as expiring on Sept. 3, 2026 after being in force from Feb. 1, 2023. The new decision also includes a chapter titled “Intrekken bestaande beleidsregels,” indicating the earlier policy is withdrawn as the new one takes effect. (lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl) The operative text and the full chapter structure are available on the Dutch local-regulations platform under Amsterdam’s municipal rules.