Amsterdam established a legal framework to guide police and enforcement officers in deciding when outdoor sleeping can be penalized. Sleeping on public roads alone has not been punishable since 2 June 2025, but sleeping directly in front of building entrances or exits remains an offence where it obstructs access or creates direct nuisance. Enforcement officers must document such nuisance, and must consider whether a fine is appropriate while directing people to shelter and assistance. Police can impose a 24-hour area ban if someone refuses to leave.

Sleeping in tents or vehicles remains prohibited, although it is generally not enforced between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. unless a complaint is made. Removing a tent currently takes about four weeks from its detection; the municipality aims to reduce this to two and a half weeks. If a tent is moved elsewhere in Amsterdam, the procedure need not restart, and it may be removed directly within two years of the first observation. Valuable belongings must be stored for at least two weeks.