You can now go-kart through Amsterdam (and people are not happy about it)

Pirate flags, motorised karts, and joyrides past the Rijksmuseum — Amsterdam has officially become a live-action Mario Kart level.

As Het Parool reports, tourists have been zipping through Amsterdam city centre in motorised go-karts since May, and let’s just say… the city isn’t exactly thrilled.

A kart too far?

The tours, offered by an arcade in Osdorp called Molly’s Arena, are inspired by Japanese pop culture and let tourists cruise the city for two hours.

For €150 per person, groups of four race past landmarks such as Dam Square and even under Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Drivers must be 21, hold a valid licence, and pass a safety quiz, but Alderman Melanie Van der Horst still isn’t buying it. “Amsterdam is busy enough as it is. Traffic is no place for crazy tours,” she tells Het Parool.

Fun for the ‘Gram, fear for the trams

In spite of what locals say, tourists appear to be loving it. Videos show karting pirates shouting “This drives so well!” and dubbing each other Max Verstappen.

The city, meanwhile, is less amused. Van der Horst points out that the karts’ low design makes them nearly invisible to trams, trucks, and basic road logic.

It’s giving big beer bike energy. Amsterdam has seen this kind of chaos before and knows how it ends. 🛑

Perfectly legal, completely unwanted

Here’s the twist: for now at least, the karts are totally legal. 😬

According to the Dutch Road Traffic Service (RDW), they’re classified as “heavy quads for road use” and allowed to drive up to 90 km/h. Why? We don’t know either.

Molly’s claims they coordinated with the city, police, and insurers, but officials strongly disagree.

Van der Horst has now appealed to Infrastructure Minister Mark Tieman, urging national regulation to keep these street racers out of busy cities. 🧑‍⚖️

So what’s your verdict? Should Amsterdam embrace the kart life or slam on the brakes? Let us know in the comments. 👇