Amsterdam councillors demand action over go-kart tours

A new tourist attraction in Amsterdam – driving go-karts in small groups through the city’s streets – must be tackled as soon as possible, city officials have told Dutch News.

From this week, an arcade hall in the city’s Osdorp district has been offering the tours, which it describes as “more than a ride”, at €147 per person for two hours. A promotional video on the website shows the karts, complete with pirate flags, speeding through the city’s narrow streets and across Dam square.

According to spokesman Jerry Driessen, the vehicles are legally allowed on Dutch roads. “They are basically cars but lower,” he told broadcaster AT5. “We do it as safely as we can, everything has been approved and we have had contact with the city council.”

But councillors are not happy about this latest tourist venture and have urged transport chief Melanie van der Horst to take action. One reason for overtourism in the city is the way it is being turned into an amusement park, said Volt councillor Juliet Broersen.

“This follows on from the beer bikes and penis costumes and is not at all what we want,” she said. Safety, she said, is also a major concern.

City officials say they will ask the transport ministry to change the rules so the karts are no longer allowed on busy city streets. “We are also going to look at how we can get the carts out of our city and we are going to talk to the company in the short term,” Van der Horst told Dutch News.

“I am extremely concerned about traffic safety if people ride these around in the city, which is already so busy,” she said. “The roads are not the place for crazy tours.”

Several years ago the city banned “beer bikes” from operating in the inner city. Several companies currently offer tours on segways and on ordinary bicycles.