Nearly 10 million tourists visited Netherlands in the summer

Accommodations in the Netherlands attracted nearly 10 million tourists during the summer months of July and August this year, 4.4 percent more than in the same months last year. In total these guests accounted for nearly 35 million overnight stays, 7.6 percent more than last year, Statistics Netherlands reported on Monday.

The summer months of July and August are the busiest months for the Dutch tourism sector. In these two months 5.53 million tourists from within the Netherlands itself and 4.39 million tourists from abroad spent time in accommodations in the country. 35.5 percent of the foreign tourists came from Germany.

With over 500 thousand tourists, Gelderland was the most popular destination among Dutch tourists this year. Foreign tourists preferred to spend time in Zeeland, Noord-Holland, and Zuid-Holland.

Holiday parks in particular were more popular this year, attracting 12 percent more visitors. Campsites, hotels, guesthouses, youth hostels and group accommodations also saw an increase in overnight stays.

The tourism sector in the Netherlands has been doing well for nearly a decade. This is the ninth consecutive year in which the number of foreign tourists visiting the Netherlands increased.