Research shows: Dutch less likely to holiday at home due to VAT increase

If the prices of overnight stays in the Netherlands rise due to the upcoming VAT increase, a whopping 84% of Dutch people will spend fewer holidays at home. 95% of Dutch people fear a price increase.

Holiday platform Parkvakanties surveyed 1,534 Dutch people on the impact of the increase in the VAT rate for overnight stays from 9% to 21%. This new rate should take effect on 1 January 2026. However, there is a lot of resistance to this from the industry. The results of this consumer survey explain this resistance with decisive figures.

More often to Germany and Belgium

Dutch holidaymakers were asked by Park Holidays what they would do if the cost of accommodation rose 10% to 15%. The response was unequivocal: 48.5% of respondents said they would go on holiday less often and 36% of Dutch people would prefer foreign countries to the Netherlands in that case. Only 16% still expect to spend their holidays as often in the Netherlands.

Holiday destinations in the border region are particularly hard hit due to the proximity of cheaper alternatives just across the border. Zeeland and Limburg will suffer the most, but Drenthe, Overijssel and Gelderland are also under fire. So which destinations will we go to if overnight stays across the border are cheaper?

With 36%, Germany is the favourite, followed by Belgium with 19%. France, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy are also mentioned as possible alternatives.

Hotels and holiday parks biggest losers

The VAT rate of 21% applies to short-stay accommodation such as: hotels, holiday homes, bed and breakfasts, hostels and accommodation rented through platforms.

When asked “Which type of accommodation would you start booking less in the Netherlands if they become significantly more expensive?”, both ‘hotels’ and ‘bungalows at holiday parks’ were mentioned by far the most. Over 55% of respondents said they would start booking them less often.

Intervention necessary

Laurens Taekema, owner of Park Holidays, shares his concern: “You get lopsided ratios when VAT is much lower in countries like Belgium (6%) and Germany (7%). A higher cost price for consumers will irrevocably cause us to price ourselves out of the market.”

Besides the holidays of the Dutch themselves, significantly fewer foreign tourists will come to the Netherlands because of the price difference for holidays and weekend breaks. According to industry organisations Horeca Nederland, ANVR and Hiswa/Recron, the number of tourist overnight stays in the Netherlands will decrease by 30%.

Taekema is sounding the alarm: “It is now five minutes to midnight. If the government doesn't realise now that it is necessary for the Dutch economy to reverse this measure, I don't know what else to do.”