Dutch hospitality sector sees turnover grow for 16th consecutive quarter

The hospitality industry saw a 3.4 percent increase in turnover in the first quarter of this year compared to a year earlier, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This means that the sector’s turnover has shown growth for 16 consecutive quarters. The last quarter in which the hospitality industry’s turnover shrank was in the first quarter of 2021, when coronavirus measures were still in place.

Food and beverage establishments saw their turnover increase by 4.4 percent. The turnover of restaurants grew by 5 percent. Fast food restaurants and cafés saw a 2.8 and 4 percent increase in turnover, respectively. Canteens and catering achieved the largest increase in the sector at 5.5 percent.

Hotel revenue improved by 2.3 percent in the first quarter compared to a year earlier. However, holiday parks and other forms of lodging, including campsites, saw a revenue drop of 3.5 percent.

When combined, the accommodation providers saw only slim revenue gains of 0.6 percent when compared to the first three months of 2024. The results were not buoyed by optimism in the sector.

Hospitality entrepreneurs were still lacking in confidence during the second quarter of the year, with a survey of business owners and executives in the sector placing at minus 12.3 on the CBS index. Still, that was an improvement from minus 17.9 during the first quarter of 2025.

Despite this boost, hospitality entrepreneurs have the lowest levels of confidence across all Dutch entrepreneurs. Those in hospitality were less negative about the economic climate in second quarter, but they have again become somewhat more negative in their expectations in the coming three months.