Amsterdam municipality suspects that 62 of the 203 boats in the Erasmusgracht in Amsterdam-West are being lived on or used for overnight stays. This is prohibited under local rules. Of those 62 vessels, 31 had no vignette and three had a vignette that had not been activated. The issue was raised after reports of boats being illegally occupied and sometimes rented out, while nearby residents reported noise and rubbish nuisance.

The municipality said removal or towing cannot happen quickly and requires a legal basis, such as an invalid vignette, a prohibited mooring location, obstruction of passage, neglect or inability to navigate. Enforcement officers can ask people to leave, offer assistance, issue warnings and ultimately impose fines. The municipality is working with municipal departments and partners on a structural approach, saying that some cases involve housing, care or support needs that enforcement alone would not resolve.