Foreign guests spend record 9 billion euro in the Netherlands

In 2006, foreign guests spent 9 billion euro in the Netherlands, over 7 percent more than in 2005. Spending by foreign travellers in the Netherlands has never been this high.

Foreign visitors in the Netherlands: numbers and overall amount spent

Sharp increase number of foreign guests

Last year, foreign guests spent over 9 billion euro in the Netherlands, an increase by 0.5 billion euro within a year. The growth is mainly caused by an increase in the number of foreign guests. Altogether, an unprecedented 10.7 million foreigners visited the Netherlands last year.

Record number of visitors from Germany and America 

The total number of foreign guests spending at least one night in the Netherlands had increased by 7 percent in 2006 relative to 2005. Far more German, American and British guests came to visit the Netherlands.

Most foreigners who visited the Netherlands in 2006 came from Germany (2.8 million), Great Britain (1.9 million) and the United States (over 1 million).

Top 5 foreign visitors by country of origin, 2005-2006

Duitse bezoekers besteden het meest in Nederland

German travellers staying in Dutch overnight accommodations have been the largest contributors to the Dutch economy for years. In 2006, they spent over 3 billion euro in the Netherlands. The British spent more than 1.3 billion euro, followed by Belgium, France, Spain and the United States, together accounting for more than 2 billion euro.

Traditionally, the Dutch spend more abroad than foreigners spend in the Netherlands. This does not apply to Germans and British visitors.

Top 5 spending foreign guests by country of origin, 2005-2006

Upward trend continues in 2007

The number of foreign travellers visiting the Netherlands increased further in 2007. In the first three quarters of this year, the overall amount spent by foreign visitors grew by nearly 8 percent and the number of visitors by 4 percent relative to the same period last year.

Oksana Nadolinskaia