Skip to Content

Exploring Dutch Tourism: Facts and Figures

Tourism in the Netherlands

The Netherlands’ tourism is not a large sector in the country’s economy, representing just 5.3% of the gross domestic product.

A report published one year ago regarding the sectors where dutch people work, tourism was in the last places with a total percentage of 9.6% of the total population.

Even if during 2019 almost 20 million tourists visited the Netherlands, the figures from the tourism sector are insignificant if we compare them with the main sectors of the business from Holland.

Tourism in the Netherlands Maastricht City Hall
Maastricht City Hall Netherlands

The main cause of such a small figure is the fact that most of the tourists used to stay in the Netherlands just for about 3 or 4 days and spend almost their entire holiday in Amsterdam.

Tourism in the Netherlands has a huge potential and there are still many interesting places which are waiting to be discovered.

As you probably know, Amsterdam is the most visited city in the country and one of the most libertine and entertaining cities in the world.

So, it should not be a surprise if I am telling you that almost all of the tourists who visited the Netherlands landed at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam and spent at least one day in this vibrant city.

I visited the countryside and also Amsterdam and I can tell you that there are two completely different worlds.

Amsterdam is vibrant, entertaining and full of tourists, I would say… it is a little bit too touristy for my taste.

Tourism of the Netherlands Maastricht City Hall
Tourism of the Netherlands Maastricht City Hall

On the other hand, the countryside and other cities of the country are more authentic. Each has its own beauty and charm and keeps its secrets away from strangers.

But, once you discover its mysteries you will fall in love with this country!

So, why don’t you give the Netherlands a chance and plan a trip across the country? Tourism in the Netherlands has really great potential!

A 10 days tour is exactly what you need to explore the whole country! It is not a big country but has many beautiful places to discover and things to experience.

And another thing! I don’t advise you to book accommodation in Amsterdam because it is really expensive!

We chose to stay at a beautiful lodge, Sea Lodges Bloemendaal, a wonderful accommodation offering clean and spacy lodges with a living, 2 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and is located just 30 kilometres away from Amsterdam.

The resort is located in a wonderful area, between the sand dunes overlooking the sea and offers 3 lodges where you can spend a relaxing holiday.

We recommend you to have a look at all the 3 available options and see which one fits you best: Sea Lodges Bloemendaal 5 , Sea Lodges Bloemendaal 6 or Sea Lodges Bloemendaal 7 .
Tourism in the Netherlands hides some of the world’s most beautiful resorts and places! Just take some time and discover them!

Logistical tips and tricks for your trip

Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.

You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.

Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.

When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.

Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.

We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.

Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.

We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.

Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.

We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.

Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.

Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.