Dutch took nearly 22 million Summer holidays in 2025, France remains top destination
Dutch residents took nearly 22 million summer holidays in 2025, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). France was the most popular foreign destination, while Gelderland led domestic travel. Among those who traveled, the average was about two trips per person, regardless of income level.
Between April 26 and Oct. 1, 10.8 million people aged 15 and older went on vacation. They took a total of 21.9 million summer holidays. Of these trips, 12.9 million were abroad. Another 9.0 million were within the Netherlands.
Overall, 72 percent of people aged 15 and older took at least one summer holiday during the period. Travel participation varied strongly by income.
In the highest income quartile, 87.3 percent of people went on summer vacation. The share was 74.3 percent in the second quartile, 58.7 percent in the third, and 41.4 percent in the lowest income group.
Household type also played a major role. Couples with children had the highest participation rate at 81.8 percent. Single-parent households followed at 75.9 percent. Couples without children stood at 70.7 percent. Single-person households had the lowest rate at 54.5 percent.
Within the Netherlands, travelers took 9.0 million summer holidays. Gelderland was the most visited province, with 1.642 million trips. Noord-Holland followed with 990,000. Noord-Brabant recorded 955,000. Limburg had 898,000. Overijssel had 887,000.
Other provinces included Friesland with 867,000 trips, Zuid-Holland with 655,000, Zeeland with 641,000, Drenthe with 576,000, Utrecht with 469,000, Flevoland with 225,000, and Groningen with 201,000.
Internationally, Dutch residents took 12.9 million summer holidays. Most of these, 11.5 million, were within Europe. This included 5.8 million trips to Western Europe and 4.1 million to Southern Europe.
A further 1.4 million trips went outside Europe. Turkey, the United States, and Indonesia were among the most visited non-European destinations.
France remained the top foreign destination with 2.15 million trips. Germany followed with 1.73 million. Spain ranked third with 1.35 million. Other destinations included Belgium at 1.15 million, Italy at 1.11 million, Greece at 670,000, the United Kingdom at 560,000, Austria at 460,000, Portugal at 410,000, and Croatia at 230,000.
The car was the most common mode of transport. It was used for 13.4 million vacations. Air travel accounted for 4.9 million trips. Train travel accounted for 1.7 million.
For domestic holidays, 80 percent of trips were made by car. For international travel, 48 percent used cars and 38 percent used airplanes. Train use remained lower, at 9 percent domestically and 7 percent internationally.
Accommodation patterns differed by destination. Overall, 7.6 million vacations were spent in hotels, pensions, or bed and breakfasts. Another 6.5 million were spent in holiday homes or mobile homes. A further 3.9 million involved camping.
Within the Netherlands, 36 percent of trips were in holiday homes or mobile homes. Abroad, hotels, pensions, and B&Bs accounted for 40 percent of stays. Camping was more common domestically, at 23 percent, compared with 14 percent abroad. Apartments were used more frequently for international trips than for domestic holidays.
