Summer vacations becoming less popular among Dutch residents

Fewer people in the Netherlands have holidays booked this summer, with only 52 percent of the population travelling in July and August. Many are choosing to go away during other times of the year or are postponing vacations due to the current global tensions and rising prices. 

Travelling during summer less likely

The latest Holiday Monitor by the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) reports that for the second year in a row, fewer Dutch residents are choosing to go on vacation during the summer. 52 percent are travelling this season, down from 57 percent last summer. 

One of the most common reasons for opting out of a summer holiday is money, with one in three people in the Netherlands citing this as a reason for staying home. With everything becoming more expensive, many are being more cautious about holiday spending - keeping in mind that consumers perceive inflation to be higher than it is.

On the other hand, some just don’t feel the need to travel in July or August, with one in four preferring to stay at home. It is also becoming more common to take time off during other times of the year, for example during the May holidays or after the summer rush in September. 

“More than 7 million Dutch people are still travelling this summer, but we see that, for the first time, the summer vacation is no longer a given,” said an ANWB spokesperson. “Financial pressure, in particular, is keeping people at home. At the same time, the need to get away remains strong, but it is increasingly being fulfilled at a different time.”

World events influence Dutch travel behaviour

Dutch travel behaviour is also influenced by geopolitical tensions, according to ANWB. 40 percent of people find travelling less attractive due to the current situation in the Middle East. 

Indeed, 65 percent of residents are avoiding the region, favouring a holiday in Europe (52 percent) or choosing to postpone booking a vacation completely (42 percent). Of those who are going away this summer, 33 percent are opting to travel within the Netherlands. 

Other favourite destinations include France, Germany, Spain and Italy, with Curaçao, Vietnam, China, and Tanzania growing in popularity. With the extreme heat we’re experiencing this summer, more than half of holidaymakers are also avoiding hotter countries.