About 44 percent of Dutch holidaymakers experienced something unpleasant during a recent trip abroad, ranging from minor inconvenience to serious situations such as illness, accidents or arrests.
This has emerged from research commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When it comes to problems abroad, it is mainly young people (18-25 and 26-35 years old) and hardly any over-55s who have to deal with them. In addition, it is more often than average, higher educated people who experience misery.
Figures from the consular services show, among other things, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assisted more than 2019 Dutch nationals in emergency situations in 3100. The reasons included missing persons, arrests, death and hospital admissions.
Top 5 problems abroad
The top 5 most common unpleasant situations during the holidays within or outside Europe:
- Money/debit/credit card stolen or lost (13%).
- Valuables such as phone, jewelry stolen or lost (12%).
- Forgotten or lost medication (10%).
- Victim of robbery or pickpocketing (9%).
- Passport/ID card/driving license stolen or lost (9%).
Misery during holidays happens more often outside Europe than within Europe. It is true that the group that only goes on holiday within Europe is quite large (slightly more than half).
The most frequently mentioned agencies where help, support or advice are sought by holidaymakers who have experienced something unpleasant are the local authorities (39%) and travel insurance (38%). A Dutch embassy or consulate is mentioned least often at 17%. 16% indicate that they have not sought help or advice from others and that they have solved it themselves. This applies most strongly to the over-55s.
Young people in particular ask for help from the Dutch embassy
Holidaymakers who ask for help or advice at a Dutch embassy or consulate are mainly young people (18-25 and 26-35 years). It hardly concerns people over 55. In addition, they are more often higher educated than average. People traveling in a group switch gears more often
people traveling alone seek help from a Dutch embassy or consulate.
The most common approach is a Dutch embassy or consulate in case of a stolen or lost passport, money or valuables. For a stolen or lost passport, seeking help or advice from a Dutch embassy ranks 3rd among the most frequently mentioned authorities. For the other two (stolen or lost money or valuables), the embassy is not in the top 3.
Events that occur relatively infrequently, but where - if it does happen - people do go to a Dutch embassy or
consulate are 'victim of violent crime', 'missing person' and 'problems with the authorities in the country where one was'.
Point to travel
Good preparation for a trip abroad can make a big difference. As a traveler you can prevent problems and if things do go wrong you know what to do. To make the Dutch aware of this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Customs will launch a joint campaign aimed at Dutch travelers on Monday: Wijs op Reis.
The figures also show that the Dutch are increasingly finding travel advice. In total, the opinions were consulted 3,25 million times in the past year. That is almost a million times more than in 2018, when the Dutch looked up 2,3 million times in the travel advice.
Minister Blok: “I wish everyone a nice holiday. But as a traveler you also have a hand in that. So be wise and prepare your trip well, so that you can enjoy carefree. For example, make sure you have good insurance and inform yourself which souvenirs you should not take home. Find out in advance how safe it is at your destination so you know which places to avoid and where you can safely go. Should things go wrong, our 24/7 BZ Contact Center is available day and night for Dutch people with a request for help.”
Travelers can find all relevant information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Customs on the Wijsopreis.nl website: from travel advice to information about what may or may not be taken with you in your luggage when you return home.
It strikes me that illness is not in the top 5. I ate something wrong on my first holiday, and I won't forget that for the rest of my life.
2 other Thailand holidays ended up in hospital. 1 x due to an intestinal infection, 1 time due to an open wound where contaminated shower water came in (probably). Very helpful both times.
My tip is don't wait too long before going to the hospital. After that intestinal infection, after a week of worrying, I was back to my old self within 24 hours. And stick a waterproof plaster on open wounds.
And save the emergency number of your bank in your mobile phone, as well as the number of the Dutch embassy.