Dutch people are already booking their summer holidays, is that actually beneficial?

In September, suitcases had barely been unpacked, but the Dutch were already planning their summer holidays for next year. Early bookings are up by over 30 percent compared to last year.

September is traditionally considered the month of last-minute deals for the autumn holidays, but figures from online travel agency VakantieDiscounter now show that the Dutch are also looking forward to summer during that same period.

Booking data shows that the number of early bookings for summer 2026 between August and the end of October is over 30 percent higher than in the same months last year. The time when Dutch people plan their holidays is therefore shifting further forward. Previously, the 'booking peak' was in January, but now it's shifting more towards autumn.

The share of families with children remains roughly the same as last year, so early booking isn't solely driven by families. The growth is primarily coming from couples and groups of friends.

In addition, the travel agency is seeing a slight decrease in the share of last-minute bookings. Spontaneous booking remains popular, but the number of conscious planners is growing. In the summer, travel agencies saw a record number of last-minute bookings . According to the travel industry organization ANVR, these developments were partly due to price levels. Prices have risen rapidly in recent years , causing the Dutch to wait longer to book a vacation.

"Certainty has become more important," Laura Vlaanderen of the online travel agency explains the increase in early bookings. "Travelers want to secure their favorite hotel or departure date early, especially during peak season. The average travel price per person remains stable, but people are making more informed choices. By booking early, they benefit from better availability and more choice, without having to pay more."

Hanita van der Meer of ANVR previously confirmed to Radar that booking early is indeed generally advantageous . In addition to an early booking discount, many travel organizations also offer additional benefits for booking early, such as free rebooking, child discounts, or free cancellation.

But booking too early isn't advantageous either . Some tools, like Skyscanner or Google Flights, have price alerts. If the price of the flight you're looking for drops, you'll receive a notification. Travel blog Reisjunk advocates booking your ticket about four to six months before your trip.

You'd love to make the most of your vacation and come home as relaxed as possible. What's the best way to do that?