Fewer in-store sales around Black Friday

Netherlands residents seem to have spread their Black Friday purchases out over the week running up to the originally American discount day. Both in-store and online payments were lower than Black Friday 2023, but online spending was higher over the week leading up to the day.

According to the Dutch Payment Association, there were almost 19 million debit card transactions on Black Friday, a decrease of 5 percent compared to a year ago. In total, the Dutch spent almost 560 million euros, 10 percent less than on Black Friday in 2023.

Netherlands residents spent more at markets, in department stores, and in clothing, toy, and hobby shops. The number of transactions at these shops increased by between 30 and 65 percent.

“This year, online stores seemed to convincingly replace physical stores for the purchase of Black Friday bargains,” the Payment Association said. The transaction volumes on iDEAL, the most commonly used online payment method in the Netherlands, increased strongly in the days leading up to Black Friday.

“The shopping boom for Black Friday in online stores now starts weeks in advance, partly to better spread the ordering and delivery rush,” the Payment Association said. On Black Friday itself, the number of iDEAL payments was lower than last year.