Backpacking through distant places to touch as many countries as possible in the shortest possible time does not seem to be spent on Dutch holidaymakers. They prefer to choose safe and trusted. Research by travel organization Eliza was here into the holiday behavior of Dutch people shows that almost three quarters (73%) of Dutch travelers go on holiday in the same country several times. More than a quarter (27%) more often stay in the same holiday home, hotel or bed &breakfast.
Sun, sea, beach and holiday in our own country most popular
Now that the traditional early bird season is just around the corner, it's time to look back on this summer. Of all Dutch people who went on holiday last summer, an average of 36 percent opted for lazing on the beach or cocktails by the pool and left for the sun. Among millennials (25 – 34), this was more than half (51%), while those 55+ were more likely to avoid the sun (27%). After a sunny trip, the holiday in our own country was the most popular this summer (22%). We let the more adventurous and cultural holidays pass us by this year:camping (10%), the active holiday (10%) and the city trip (9%) were less popular last summer. The Dutch also ignored cockroaches and shared bunk beds:only one percent went for a backpacker-style holiday.
Most holidays booked less than three months in advance
Although a holiday in prospect does a person good, we book our trips fairly shortly in advance. Booking a holiday up to three months in advance is the most popular period (43%), followed by three to six months in advance (36%). The group that plans the least ahead are the 55+:more than half (54%) of these people book their holiday zero to three months in advance.
When booking, we prefer to keep the reins in our own hands:more than half of holidaymakers (51%) planned and booked their summer holidays themselves this year. Just over a quarter (28%) opted for a holiday package through an online travel provider. Travel agencies were the least popular way to book a holiday (9%).
