D. Tighe
Research expert covering consumer behavior, sporting goods retail, and the global toy industry.
Christmas season shopping in the Netherlands - Statistics & Facts
The holiday season is an exciting time in the Netherlands: from enjoying seasonal candy to receiving gifts from either Sinterklaas or Santa Claus, there are many festive moments to look forward to during this time of year. The holiday season is also of vital importance to most retailers, as sales figures tend to reach their annual peaks during those late autumn and early winter months. In 2023, festive spending over the course of the holiday season in the Netherlands was projected to grow by 0.3 percent, which is a slight decline in growth compared to the previous year.
Dutch gift shopping habits
One very common habit around Christmas time is that of gift giving. And while people around the world often give each other presents on Christmas Eve or Day, people in the Netherlands also hand out gifts during Sinterklaas (or Saint Nicholas), which takes place on the fifth of December. When purchasing Sinterklaas gifts, specifically, consumers in the Netherlands intended to spend over 130 euros per capita in 2023, an increase compared to one year earlier, but a slight decrease compared to 2021. Whether it is a nice box of chocolates or brand new shoes, Dutch consumers will need to put their best foot forward if they wish to make their gift recipient happy. According to a survey conducted in September 2023, approximately half of gift recipients in the Netherlands had previously been disappointed by presents they got for Sinterklaas or Christmas.Holiday season retail sales in other parts of Europe
Although holiday retail sales in the Netherlands were expected to reach an estimated total of 12.9 billion British pounds (an estimated 15 billion euros) during this year's Christmas, certain other, larger countries were projected to spend far more in total. In 2022, Christmas retail sales in the United Kingdom and Germany were expected to reach a total of roughly 95 billion British pounds and 124 billion euros, respectively.
