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The number of tourists coming to the Netherlands continues to increase. In 2019, there were 20.1 million international visitors to the Netherlands, an increase of 7 percent compared to 2018. The Netherlands is particularly popular with Germans, Belgians and Britons.
About 70 percent of all international visitors come from our neighboring countries and the United Kingdom. About 80 percent of them come from Europe, according to figures issued by the World Health Organization Netherlands Tourism and Convention Bureau (NBTC).
This analysis also shows that Germans and Britons in particular are staying in the Netherlands a little longer than before. “It is noticeable that more and more visitors are extending their stay more often,” says José Franquin of NBTC. “While the number of visitors rose by 7 percent to 20 million, the number of overnight stays increased by 10 percent.”
Last year, for the first time, there were more than 50 million overnight stays in our country.
A short holiday in Amsterdam or on the coast
Tourists mainly come to the Netherlands for a short holiday. Those who travel to the Netherlands by plane mainly come on a city trip. Guests from our neighboring countries love staying on the coast.
Until 2030, the tourism agency expects growth mainly in coastal areas (+56 percent). In 2017, the Dutch coast attracted 6.5 million tourists, and it is expected to rise to 10 million by 2030.
The number of tourists in Amsterdam is also increasing. In 2017, there were still 8.3 million holiday or conference visitors to the capital, which will grow by 44 percent to more than 12 million in 2030.
Bottlenecks
According to the NBTC manager, this growth provides opportunities but also causes bottlenecks. “It is necessary to have a different vision of tourism,” Franken says. The role of NBTC is changing. The tourism agency wants to focus more on research to ensure better distribution of visitors.
