More people living permanently in holiday parks

On April 1 of this year, nearly 60,000 people were registered as living permanently at a holiday park, up from 51,000 in 2019, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. Dutch law does not allow for permanent residence at holiday parks, but due to the housing shortage, many people don’t have much choice. Holiday parks also often provide an emergency solution for people with financial problems, according to CBS.

“Over the years, the number of people registered at a holiday park home address has been increasing,” CBS said. People living on a holiday park are older than the average in the rest of the Netherlands. In April, 26 percent of holiday park residents were 65 years old or older, compared to 21 percent in the rest of the Netherlands. 19 percent were younger than 25.

“Holiday parks can sometimes provide an emergency solution for people who fall outside the regular rental or housing market due to, for example, financial problems,” CBS said. “The proportion of people with problematic debt is often relatively high among people registered at a holiday park, although this varies by region.”

In Noord-Brabant, 13 percent of holiday park residents had problematic debts in 2024. In Zeeland, it was 5 percent. In Drenthe, Groningen, and Noord-Brabant, 8 percent of holiday park residents received social assistance or unemployment benefits. Zeeland again had the west rate at 3 percent.

The province of Gelderland had the most people living permanently in holiday parks at approximately 10,000, followed by Noord-Brabant (over 9,000), and Overijssel (over 7,000). Groningen has the fewest residents registered at holiday parks.