Travel/leisure

Car parks at The Hague’s beaches have reached capacity during a busy Pentecost weekend. The municipality is advising visitors to switch to public transport or other alternatives. Those arriving by car are being redirected to the city centre.

The government is launching a discounted off-peak rail pass on 21 June to help passengers save money over the summer. Valid until 1 September, the scheme allows unlimited off-peak travel for just €49 a month, down from the usual €127.95, in an effort to ease the pressure on household budgets caused by the rising cost of living. To get the €118 million plan ready in time, parliament must fast-track a budget change, after which officials will review the summer data to see if the cheaper fares can become permanent.

NS has started a trial allowing some enforcement officers to carry batons, citing safety concerns. The move follows a rise in aggression against staff. At the same time, conductors are gradually being equipped with body cameras.

Schiphol warns travellers about long queues at security on the first day of its new security setup. The airport has deployed extra staff and is handing out water, while it investigates the cause of the delays. Travellers are urged to arrive early and monitor updates from the airport and airlines.

Two evacuation flights from Tenerife to Eindhoven will depart on Monday after a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius. One flight carries crew members; the other transports passengers who will later continue to Australia. The ship will sail to Rotterdam for disinfection.

The caravan is enjoying a significant resurgence in the Netherlands, with new sales figures from trade associations BOVAG and KCI showing an 18 per cent increase in registrations this spring. While caravan sales are currently declining across the rest of Europe in favour of motorhomes, the Dutch market is bucking the trend, driven largely by young families who see them as an ideal way to holiday with children. Industry experts note that since the pandemic, caravans have firmly returned to the radar of younger generations, resulting in over 2,100 new units being sold in just two months.

The Dutch are seeking certainty in holiday plans. This means avoiding travel to middle-east, instead preferring European, particularly Mediterranean, destinations and places like Cape Verde or Curacao on long-haul travel. Overall, there isn’t any significant reduction in holiday travel bookings seen.

The outdoor swimming season officially launches this Friday, 1 May, though the warm weather brings dozens of immediate safety warnings across the country’s 950 official sites. While 94% of locations have maintained high water quality standards recently, two spots in Gelderland are currently under total bans, and roughly 40 others have issued alerts for blue-green algae or pollution. Authorities urge swimmers to check official updates before diving in, as entering flagged waters can lead to skin irritation or stomach upsets, and swimming always remains at the individual's own risk.