Dutch motorhome owners prefer to go to Zeeland, North Brabant and Utrecht

While the camper season has started and the roads are getting busier again, Dutch camper owners are choosing the beauty and diversity of their own country the most. This is according to research on motorhome behaviour among four thousand respondents, conducted in April by Campercontact, a platform for motorhome owners. It further showed, among other things, that a motorhome owner stays three nights in the same place and spends 61 euros daily.

Netherlands, Germany and France in top 3

The survey conducted by Campercontact shows that 79% of Dutch motorhome owners took a trip in their own country last year. Germany is the second country in terms of popularity (72%), followed by France, where 71% stayed by motorhome.

The most popular destination within the Netherlands this spring is the province of Zeeland (and especially the towns of Domburg, Cadzand and Vlissingen), according to search behaviour of Dutch Campercontact users over the last 30 days. North Brabant and Utrecht are the numbers two and three. In spring 2023, Limburg was at the top, ahead of Zeeland and North Brabant.

In Germany, Dutch people search the Rhineland-Palatinate region the most (especially Cochem, Trier and Koblenz). The cities of Hamburg and Berlin complete the top three most popular regions in Germany. Within France, Dutch motorhome owners most often look for overnight stays in Normandy (Honfleur, Rouen and Etretat). The city of Paris and Brittany are the numbers two and three most viewed French destinations in spring 2024.

May, June and September most popular

Many European motorhome owners (the survey was conducted among Dutch, German, British, French and Italian nationals) prefer to travel outside the high season. In the months of September, May and June, some 70% take a campervan trip. In the summer months of July and August, 56% do so. Interestingly, April and October are at the same level. From November to February, an average of 30% of RVers head out. The month of March sees a sudden increase: 43%.

Camper owners from the Netherlands make an average of nine trips of one to three days, three of one week and one trip of four to six weeks per year. In doing so, they spend an average of 61 Euros per day, (just above the European average of 57 Euros). The amount is the total of accommodation plus food and drink (excluding fuel).

Motorhome site and campsite almost balanced

When Dutch motorhome owners choose a place to spend the night, 46% do so at a motorhome site and 43% at a campsite. The remaining 11% say they spend the night somewhere else, often unofficial spots. In the other countries in the survey, a similar percentage stay at a camper van site, but the proportion of free spots is somewhat higher than among the Dutch. Motorhome owners stay an average of 3 nights at one location, except for those from the UK: a British motorhome owner adds an extra night.

A quarter take pet with them

Dutch motorhome owners take their pets on a trip in 27% of cases. This is similar in Germany, France and the UK. Italians are the biggest animal lovers: there, 38% take one or more pets with them in the motorhome.