Dutch holiday bookings still below pre-pandemic levels; Sunny destinations most popular

People living in the Netherlands are planning on staying home during the upcoming autumn holiday at a higher rate this year compared to before the coronavirus pandemic. The travel sector is having its best year since the pandemic, but there is still a small backlog compared to 2019. Those who are booking trips are planning on seeking out the sun during the upcoming holiday, which starts this weekend in the south of the Netherlands, and a week later everywhere else.

The higher cost of living in recent years is one reason fewer people are booking holidays this month versus five years ago. "Due to the inflation of the past years, turnover records are already being set, but we hear from Schiphol and our members that the number of travelers is still lagging behind," said Frank Radstake. He leads the ANVR which represents Dutch companies in the travel sector.

The popularity of using the weeklong autumn holiday grew by about 5 percent this year compared to 2023, as opposed to 4 percent growth when looking at the rest of the year, the ANVR said. This is a continuation of a recent trend, even if bookings have yet to return to before the pandemic.

Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Spain are popular destination choices for the upcoming holiday, according to the travel industry association. "We sometimes hear that people save a trip to the Mediterranean for the spring and autumn, and then choose a milder destination in terms of climate in the summer," said Radstake.

The reason for increased growth in the autumn seems to simply come from people wanting an extra chance to take a trip. Residents still booked trips in the summer as well, said the ANVR, and travel operators Sunweb and Tui. "Now that people are somewhat used to inflation, it is again apparent that the Dutch are eager to travel," said Radstake.

"Many people experience autumn as a perfect balance: after the more intense summer temperatures, they want the comfortable climate of late summer," a Sunweb spokesperson explained when asked about the popularity of the Mediterranean. The travel organization has booked 15 percent more autumn holidays than last year, after also seeing growth in the summer as well.

More bookings were also recorded at TUI and their competitor, Corendon. "The second week of the autumn holiday is almost sold out," a TUI spokesperson said.