Amsterdam is planning to set up a registry for people who want to rent out their homes via holiday rental websites such as Airbnb, city housing alderman Laurens Ivens told current affairs show Nieuwsuur on Tuesday night.

‘People will have to report it if they are planning to rent out so we can keep a proper check on how long they are doing it for,’ he said. ‘if they don’t they will face sanctions, a fine.’

Despite initial opposition from the cabinet, MPs voted in favour of a motion allowing cities to set up registers at the end of February.

Amsterdammers are allowed to rent out their homes for a maximum of 60 days and to no more than four people, unless a family group. People in rent-controlled properties cannot use Airbnb’s services and other tenants need the permission of their landlord.

The city has also agreed with Airbnb that properties will be removed from the site if rented out for more than 60 days.

Nevertheless, the use of the service in the Dutch capital has soared, with claims earlier this week that the number of nights spent in Airbnb rentals doubled last year. The company itself puts the increase at 30%.