Amsterdam: The European capital fighting bad tourists

On a recent weekday, sunlight streamed through the clouds high above Amsterdam, casting rays on the city's gabled buildings, its arching bridges and a sign in English asking tourists to please not urinate into its canals.

The Dutch capital is one of the most-visited cities in Europe, with its 800,000-person population welcoming up to 20 million tourists a year. But despite its world-class museums, achingly beautiful green spaces and tranquil waterways, Amsterdam has also earned a raunchy reputation as Europe's most liberal party capital – and now, the city is trying to clean up its image.

A new series of measures is being implemented to "maintain the quality of life in Amsterdam" while "working to prevent tourism that causes nuisances". The city council banned cruise ships from its city centre in July to prevent overtourism in its most popular areas. In May, it banned smoking cannabis in its red light district. And in March, it launched a "stay-away" digital campaign, targeting men aged 18 to 35 in the UK, attempting to curb visitors coming for drugs, alcohol and sex.