More Dutch having car troubles while on holiday

The ANWB Alarm Center has received 15,000 digital reports and phone calls a day from inside and outside the country from people on vacation. The road users service was already expecting a very busy summer due to all the sporting events. The number of reports is expected to increase in the coming weeks.

"The ANWB Alarm Center and its support centers in Lyon, Barcelona, and Munich are working at full speed to help travelers with a breakdown or who require medical care due to illness or accident get back on their way," the service stated. The number of service staff has been raised to 1,200, and 24 roadside assistance officers are in the popular holiday destinations of France, Italy, and Spain to help the Dutch people there.

In vehicle assistance, breakdowns abroad have increased by 5 percent compared to 2023. Most car breakdown reports came from France, followed by Germany and Belgium. Defects frequently reported are indicator lights that come on, starting problems, loss of engine power, or a flat tire. According to the ANWB, the increase in the number of campers with issues is striking.

Most requests for personal assistance come from Spain, Turkey, and France. The ANWB also sees an increase in the number of reports from popular intercontinental destinations. The people who called the Alarm Center usually had stomach, fever, and heart complaints.

The ANWB expects the number of reports to increase even further in August. August is "the holiday month" in many countries, which means that garages are closed or understaffed. Simple repairs cannot be done quickly, and holidaymakers must wait longer. The ANWB, therefore, advises travelers to pay extra attention to their car before departure and, for example, check the oil level and tire pressure. "It is always better to prevent breakdowns, especially now."