Markets
Netherlands

Market Characterization for Portugal

In 2025, the Netherlands ranked as the 6th largest source market for Portugal in terms of overnight stays (share: 4.4%) and 9th in terms of guest numbers (share: 3.5%). In 2025, the Dutch market recorded approximately 699,900 guests (year-over-year change: -1.3%), who generated 2,511,400 overnight stays (year-over-year change: -3.4%). It stands out as the 8th largest market in terms of tourism revenue with €1,107.8 million (share: 3.85%), up 2.4% compared to 2024.

In terms of overnight stays, the Algarve was the top destination for Dutch tourists visiting Portugal (42.8%), followed by Greater Lisbon (17.9%) and Madeira (16.3%). By type of accommodation, hotel stays predominated (42.7%), followed by private rentals (17.9%) and apartment hotels (15.3%).

The airlines that carried Dutch tourists to Portugal were: Transavia (share: 42.7%), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (28.2%), TAP Air Portugal (13.7%), Ryanair (10.6%), and others (4.7%). Most flights originated in Amsterdam (share: 72.8%), followed by Eindhoven (18.5%), Rotterdam (7.9%), and others (0.7%).

According to SIBS data, the Algarve accounts for 33.7% of the €351.4 million in card purchases originating from the Netherlands in 2025, followed by Greater Lisbon (26.8%). The North ranks third (share: 14.2%), followed by Madeira (8.1%).

2025 Position | Year-over-Year Change
Guests 0.7M 9º | -1.3%
Overnight stays 2.5M 6º | -3.4%
Tourism receipts 1107.8M€ 8º | 2.4%
Disembarked passengers 1.4M 8º | 3.8%

Market Profile

Change 24/23
18.0 M Population
0.7 %
74157.7 USD GDP per Capita
2.4 %
2.7 % Inflation Rate
-1.4 pp
28.8 % Savings Rate
0.0 pp

The Netherlands had a population of 18.0 million in 2024 and was the 18th largest economy in the world, and the 7th largest in Europe.

According to Globaldata, in 2024, the Netherlands was the 10th largest source market for tourists worldwide, generating 36.8 million trips and accounting for 2.3% of total global tourism demand. Approximately 89.9% of these trips were within Europe. The main regions sending Dutch tourists abroad were: South Holland (share: 23.7%), North Holland (18.6%), North Brabant (14.8%), Gelderland (11.1%), and Utrecht (9.2%).

In turn, 37.8% of trips abroad made by Dutch tourists in 2025 were by air; 61.3% were made by land; and 0.9% by sea.

Team

Market Team Coordinator
Susana Cardoso
Info.Netherlands@turismodeportugal.pt
0031703111002

Outlook

The latest data from the International Monetary Fund shows that the Dutch economy grew by 1.9% in 2025, despite an unfavorable global economic climate marked by the conflict in Ukraine, the war in the Middle East, and rising costs for energy, raw materials, and intermediate goods. Growth is expected to slow slightly in 2026 (+1.2%) before increasing to 1.4% in 2027.

Data from GlobalData indicates that, between 2026 and 2029, international departures by Dutch tourists are projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1%, reaching 43.3 million departures in 2029. Over the same period, spending by Dutch tourists abroad is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 6.2%.

Based on OAG Schedules Analyser data for the 2025–2026 winter season (October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026), the projected number of available airline seats from Italy to major European destinations is as follows: United Kingdom: 2.9 million seats (+0.7%), Spain: 2.7 million (+5.4%), Italy: 1.6 million (-2.4%), Portugal: 650,000 (+3.9%), Turkey: 600,000 (+8.6%), and Greece: 350,000 (+9.9%).

ForwardKeys forecasts suggest that passenger traffic from the Dutch market to Portugal will increase by 1.7% between April 2026 and March 2027, compared to the same period in the previous year.

For the 2025 winter season compared to 2024, covering the period from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the following number of available seats on flights from Italy to major European destinations is projected: United Kingdom: 2.9 million seats (+0.7%), Spain: 2.7 million (+5.4%), Italy: 1.6 million (-2.4%), Portugal: 650,000 (+3.9%), Turkey: 600,000 (+8.6%), and Greece: 350,000 (+9.9%). According to Forwardkeys, flight forecasts for passengers originating in the Dutch market to Portugal for the period from November 2025 to April 2026 point to a 5.4% decrease compared to the same period the previous year.

TOP 10 destinations | GlobalData: France (share: 14.3%), Germany (14.3%), Spain (11.8%), Italy (7.4%), Belgium (7.1%), Austria (6.4%), United Kingdom (4.9%), Turkey (3.3%), Greece (3.2%), and Denmark (2.5%). Portugal ranks 11th with a share of 1.9%.