Amsterdam is not just a place to live. It is a place to truly live. To create. To start a business. To dance, play sports, study, care for others, and build something that is yours. That is why people love this city. Because you can be yourself here. But that only works if the city does not stand in your way. If the rules make sense. If the streets are clean. If you can get home safely at night. If you do not drown in paperwork as an entrepreneur. And if tourism makes the city stronger, not heavier.
Volt wants an Amsterdam where you can do what suits you. Not because anything goes, but because freedom means having space within clear, fair rules. And because a city only thrives when the basics are in order.
Amsterdam is famous for its nightlife culture. Not just for visitors, but for Amsterdammers. Clubs, venues, cafés, festivals, creators. Night means work, art, connection and energy. It also means safety, mobility and agreements.
Volt chooses a nightlife that offers space and takes responsibility:
● We invest in nightlife culture and creative hubs, including through smarter use of vacant buildings
● We ensure that the night remains accessible, not just for those who can pay a lot
● We create clear rules for noise, closing times and permits, so entrepreneurs know where they stand and neighbors know what to expect
Amsterdam runs on people who make things. The baker on the corner. The entrepreneur in Nieuw-West. The freelancer with an idea. The maker in a studio. The scale-up. And also the community-minded entrepreneur: someone who provides jobs, takes on interns, or keeps the neighborhood alive. Too often the municipality feels like a maze. Waiting for permits. Unclear rules. A different counter every time. That costs time, money and energy. And it holds back exactly the people who make the city vibrant.
Volt sees entrepreneurs as partners:
● We make permits faster and predictable, with clear deadlines and fewer unnecessary requirements
● We provide affordable workspaces and room for makers, so the city does not just become a showcase but also remains a workshop
● We help entrepreneurs go green and go digital, without needing to hire a consultant for it
● We protect fair business, and take action against undermining and abuse, so that those who play by the rules are not pushed out by those who cheat
Sometimes it is the small things that determine how you feel in your neighborhood. An overflowing container. Litter. Broken paving stones. Abandoned bikes. Trash that just stays there. Then you get the feeling: nobody is in control. A clean city is not a luxury. It is respect for each other. And it is the foundation for safety, health and pride.
Volt wants Amsterdam to feel tidy and livable again. And fast.
● We ensure waste collection is reliable, with enough capacity where it is busy
● We deploy more people to clean and maintain the city
● We make it easier to do the right thing, with enough collection points and clear information about waste and deposit schemes
● We tackle spots where things structurally go wrong, together with residents and entrepreneurs
Amsterdam is cosmopolitan, and we can be proud of that. But tourism should not consume the city. It should contribute to the neighborhoods, the facilities and the people who live here.
Volt chooses balance:
● We make sure visitors contribute to what the city needs, and visibly invest that money back into Amsterdam
● We protect residential neighborhoods from nuisance and unchecked growth, with clear rules and enforcement
● We steer toward tourism that fits the city: less "snap a photo and go," more "respect for where you are a guest"
● We strengthen culture, sports and neighborhoods so the city is not just a backdrop, but a place where Amsterdammers live
Want to know what Volt Amsterdam stands for over the next four years? In our election program you will find all our plans: from more affordable housing and a green, sustainable city to fair opportunities for every Amsterdammer. No empty promises, but concrete ideas that work. Read the full election program.