D. Tighe
Research expert covering consumer behavior, sporting goods retail, and the global toy industry.
Valentine's Day in the Netherlands - statistics & facts
Valentine’s Day takes place on February 14 each year, and is widely considered the most romantic holiday of the year. Both romantic love between partners, and platonic love between friends and family are celebrated on this day. That being said, Valentine’s Day is not celebrated by everyone. In the Netherlands, for example, around two-thirds of people in relationships said they were not likely to commemorate the occasion. In contrast, more than half of couples in the United States intended to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Dutch behavior on Valentine’s Day
One of the key reasons people in the Netherlands were not likely to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2022 had to do with perception. Over 60 percent of those surveyed expressed that Valentine’s Day felt too much like a commercial and/or marketing event, making it by far the leading reason why Dutch people avoid the occasion. About a quarter of respondents indicated that Valentine’s Day simply is not part of their traditions or culture. For those that did intend to do something on Valentine’s Day, a significant share planned to buy flowers, have a romantic dinner at home, or make love.Favorite romantic gifts
In addition to spending time together, it is a tradition among many lovebirds to exchange presents on Valentine’s Day. When asked what they would like to receive on February 14 in 2021, over 40 percent of women in the Netherlands stated that they appreciated receiving flowers. About a fifth of Dutch women said a card would be their favorite Valentine’s gift to receive. In contrast to women, chocolate was the most desired gift among male respondents that year.
