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Record number of tourists in Netherlands in 2011

Record numbers of tourists visited the Netherlands in 2011, drawn by the warm spring and autumn and a preference for ‘closer-to-home’ holidays during the global recession.

Germans and Belgians, along with Americans, were the largest national groups among the 11.3 million visitors, an increase of 400,000, or more than three per cent, on the previous year.

The rise in people hopping over the border compensated for a drop in the number coming from further afield, including Italians, Spaniards, Japanese and British tourists.

The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) said the expansion of Schiphol airport helped boost visitor traffic, as well as fine weather in the mid-season.

Altogether visitors spent a total of €4.5 billion euro in 2011, €160 million more than in 2010.

The NBTC has set a target of attracting an extra 150,000 tourists and €60 million in 2012, even though its state-funded marketing budget is set to be cut in half.

Source: NRC: Recordaantal buitenlandse toeristen in Nederland door zacht weer en crisis

Photo by Shirley de Jong

See also: Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions