Close to three quarters of the Dutch population – or around 22 million people – took one or more holidays during summer 2025, new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has revealed.
According to the data, 10.8 million people aged 15 and over took one or more holidays during 26 April and 1 October 2025, accounting for 21.9 million trips. Of these, 12.9 million were taken abroad, while 9.0 million were within the Netherlands.
Statistics Netherlands’ Holidays Survey found that overall, 72% of people aged 15 and over went on at least one summer holiday during the period.
Holiday participation varied by household type, with couples with children recording the highest rate, at 81.8%. Single-parent households followed at 75.9%, while 70.7% of couples without children travelled during the summer. People living alone were the least likely to take a holiday, with 54.5% travelling.
Income also influenced the likelihood of holiday participation, the data showed. More than 87% of people in households with the highest disposable incomes took a summer holiday, compared with around two fifths (41.4%) of those in the lowest income group.
‘However, the frequency of holidays is similar for people on both lower and higher incomes. In the summer of 2025, both groups went on holiday twice, on average,’ Statistics Netherlands noted.
Home or away
While overseas travel was popular, the Netherlands was still the single most visited destination, accounting for nine million holiday trips overall. Within the country, Gelderland attracted the highest number of visits, with more than 1.6 million trips, followed by Noord-Holland, Noord-Brabant, Limburg and Overijssel.
In terms of international travel, Europe remained the dominant destination, attracting 11.5 million trips. Western Europe accounted for 5.8 million holidays and Southern Europe for 4.1 million. A further 1.4 million holidays were taken outside Europe, with Türkiye, the United States and Indonesia among the popular international destinations.
Within Europe, France remained the most popular foreign destination, attracting 2.15 million holiday trips. Germany followed with 1.73 million trips, ahead of Spain with 1.35 million. Belgium and Italy completed the top five destinations, while Greece, the United Kingdom, Austria, Portugal and Croatia also featured among the most visited countries.
Accommodation type
Hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts were the most frequently used accommodation overall, Statistics Netherlands noted, accounting for 7.6 million holiday stays. Holiday homes and mobile homes followed with 6.5 million trips, while campsites hosted 3.9 million holidays.
‘36% of holidaymakers who spent their holidays in the Netherlands opted for a holiday home or mobile home,’ the statistics body said. ‘Among those who went abroad, a hotel, guesthouse or B&B was the most popular choice, at 40%. Campers were more likely to stay in the Netherlands (23%), while 14% went camping abroad. Renting an apartment was more popular among those going abroad than those who stayed in the Netherlands.’ Read more here.
