All of the Netherlands is going on May vacation here

The May holiday remains a sacred moment for the Dutch to take a break. Exchanging our hectic lives for a good dose of rest and peace. Those who think we are all going intercontinental are completely mistaken. We cheese heads are approaching it differently this year; less far and spending less. The sun and sea continue to lure us, but this year without the financial hangover.

Old and familiar

Those who compare the booking figures will notice that Europe is more popular than ever. Where last year 85 percent of May holidaymakers stayed within Europe, the figure has now risen to over 89 percent. The familiar classics continue to perform well: Turkey is (as expected) firmly in first place as the favorite destination, while Spain is on the rise. Destinations like Egypt and Tunisia are actually taking a step back. At the beginning of March, the number of bookings to Egypt for the May holiday was half of the same period in ’25. Now thoughts are slowly returning to Egypt, but it is not yet what it was last year. Possibly because it is situated between two risk areas; it's not as if we are all tired of the Pyramids.

4% discount

Not only is the destination changing, but also the way of traveling. Those who haven't noticed are living under a rock: everything has become more expensive. And flying is part of that. Jet fuel prices are skyrocketing, and some airlines even dare to charge fuel costs retroactively to travelers who thought they were smart by booking early. Will we get our money back if prices drop? I don't think so. Due to the higher costs, the Dutch are paying just a bit more attention during the holiday. On average, we spend about 4 percent less per person than last year. That saving often comes from small adjustments: one day less, a hotel just outside the center, dining out a bit less fancy, or choosing a destination closer by. The May holiday remains intact, but is being organized a bit differently. Because not going away? That's something we certainly won't do.

But, why then?

The fact that we are keeping our trips more often within Europe has not only to do with the almost empty wallet, it is also a feeling thing. Going on holiday within our own continent just feels more familiar. You don't have to travel so far and skip that hellish jet lag. On top of that, it's always nice to know that you could be home again tomorrow. For whatever reason.

The May holiday may have become more modest, but never boring. After all, that holiday zen is just a state of mind.

SOURCE: VakantieDiscounter & NOS