The number of German tourists coming to the Netherlands for a holiday has risen sharply in recent years. According to ABN Amro, which has researched holiday parks and camping sites in the Netherlands, this year has reached a historic peak. For example, the number of Germans holidaying in our country more than doubled in the first five months of this year compared to the same period ten years ago.

Also compared to last year, more Germans crossed the border for their holidays. In the period through May, this represents a 44 percent increase, ABN Amro reports. However, it should be noted that many corona measures were still in force in the Netherlands in the first months of 2022. This included, for example, the issuance of a corona ticket for restaurants.

Outdated accommodations

The bank notes that there are differences in how holiday locations benefit from the influx of German tourists. For example, campground turnover is high mainly because of higher bookings, and holiday parks generate more income as a result of higher prices. ABN Amro also states that holiday parks are suffering from competition from sites that rent out private homes in terms of bookings. According to the bank, holiday parks where accommodations are outdated are under particular pressure.

According to ABN Amro, it could help vacation parks focus on flexible cancellation terms and energy-efficient accommodations. Also for off peak season. “Replacing old accommodation with sustainable holiday homes reduces energy costs,” explains ABN Amro Stef Driessen banker. These costs put margins at the parks under the most pressure and are not always insurmountable. Thus, investing in more sustainable accommodation is getting more attention.

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The Dutch Tourism and Convention Bureau (NBTC) has already proven that the Netherlands continues to be very popular with German residents. In the first quarter of this year, the largest group of tourists came from this country, making up 28 percent of the international guests. According to NBTC, Germans are staying longer and in different destinations, which means that many places in our country benefit from tourism. They also spend on average proportionately more money during the holiday.