Schools in the south of the country will be the first to start their vacation period this weekend. This summer, trips will most often go to France and Germany, countries that have been at the top as foreign destinations for years. Many families are returning there.
France and Germany alternate the top position annually in the list of most popular foreign holiday destinations for Dutch people. In 2024, more than half of the summer holidays had a foreign destination, of which France was the most visited country, according to new figures from statistics bureau CBS on Friday.
But according to an annual holiday survey by the ANWB, Germany may well surpass France again this year. In particular, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Moselle wine region will be much visited this summer.
Germany and France are especially popular because Dutch people like to go on holiday by car, says ANWB spokesperson Stephan Grout. This year, 60 percent of holidaymakers will get into the car for their summer holiday. In France, the Côte d’Azur, Normandy and Aquitaine will attract many Dutch tourists.
The reason why France is so often at the top is easy to explain, according to TUI spokesperson Anke van Nieuwenhuizen. “It is a versatile country with a nice mix of beach, culture, mountains and bustling cities. And of course you have the French cuisine and wines.”
Van Nieuwenhuizen confirms that the good accessibility of countries like France by car also plays a major role in popularity. “People choose the car because of the flexibility. Many destinations in France can be reached within a day’s drive. But you can also make trips from your destination or combine different destinations.”
Travel outside Europe less popular
Destinations outside Europe are a lot less popular this summer than last year, the ANWB knows. Whereas in 2023 15 percent of Dutch people made an intercontinental trip, this year it remains at 8 percent. According to Grout, geopolitical unrest is an important cause. “People like to stay close to home, should something happen.”
North America was still the most popular continent to visit after Europe last year. But Grout sees that especially the United States are less popular this year, because people have trouble with the policies of President Donald Trump. Striking is that the number of trips to Asia has doubled compared to a year earlier. Especially young people like to choose Japan and Thailand this summer.
Young people choose relatively more often for long-distance travel. Grout also sees that this group packs their bags much faster. The ANWB survey shows that 62 percent of Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2010) expect to fly during the long holiday, compared to 46 percent for those aged 30 and over. “Asian countries are especially popular with them because the daily expenses there are cheap,” says the ANWB spokesperson.
Scandinavian countries in demand due to cooler climate
Although the climate plays a role in determining holiday destinations, it weighs less heavily on intercontinental travel. “We do see that people are now avoiding destinations around the Mediterranean. In the high season it is extremely hot there and there is a chance of forest fires. Instead, many travelers choose to go to Spain, for example, in May.”
As an alternative, some Dutch are looking further north this summer. Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark are popular because of the cooler climate, Grout knows. According to CBS, 10 percent of Dutch people visited a country in Northern Europe in 2024.
Meanwhile, countries such as Albania and Croatia are also being visited more and more often. “But in percentage terms, these are still small numbers,” Grout adds. For the time being, the destinations cannot match the undiminished popularity of France and Germany.
At TUI, Van Nieuwenhuizen also sees many creatures of habit: people who prefer to return to the same destination or accommodation every time. “Especially families choose their favorite campsites in the summer.”