In September 2025, we conducted our annual winter sports survey through the websites Skiinformatie.nl, Snowplaza.nl, and Snowplaza.be. Over 1,500 winter sports enthusiasts from the Netherlands and Belgium participated in the detailed online questionnaire. We asked about their booking behavior, the use of AI, and factors influencing the choice of destination and accommodation. Additionally, topics such as sustainability, transportation preferences, and the impact of economic factors on winter sports holiday plans were also addressed. The findings provide valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the winter sports industry in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Mountain Holiday Survey 2025: We’d rather cut back on groceries than give up our trip
In March 2025, the platform In de bergen once again conducted a large-scale survey into mountain holiday trends among Dutch and Belgian travellers. More than 1200 visitors and followers of the website completed the online questionnaire, which explored topics such as booking behaviour, transportation, accommodation preferences and holiday activities. As in previous years, the results provide a clear picture of the latest trends and shifts in the mountain holiday market. The most telling insight? Even with rising costs, we’d rather cut back on everyday expenses than miss out on our cherished getaway to the mountains.
Read the key findings from the survey on Indebergen >
View the full survey Summer reasearch 2025 ENG
Winter sports survey 2023-2024 – German market
From 22th of September to the 5th of October2023, the winter sports website Snowplaza.de conducted research into winter sports trends among German speaking people. We asked questions about booking behaviour, effects of inflation on the winter sports budget, but also asked about activities people like to do or would like to do again during their winter sports holidays.
In total, more than 1,000 winter sports enthusiasts took part in the survey, 92,2% of whom were from Germany, 4,2% from Austria, 1,5% from Switzerland and 2,1% from other countries. The proportion of men and women is 61% and 3 % respectively. More than 20% of the respondents live in North Rhine- Westphalia, 14% in Bavaria, 14% in Baden- Württemberg and 11% in Hesse. The answers were gathered via an online survey, which was distributed via the websites and the corresponding social media channels of both websites.
Download survey here
Winter sports frequency
More than a third of all respondents go on a winter sports holiday at least once a year. 31% spend even twice and 28% even more often a winter sports holiday in the mountains. Only a small proportion of 5% do not go on a skiing holiday at all each year. 64% of respondents have gone on winter holidays about as often in the past five years (excluding the “Corona winter”), while 18% have gone more often than before. About 17% say they have gone on ski holidays less often. On the following pages we asked about the frequency of a winter sports holiday.
One thord go on skiing
For almost half of the respondents, the “financial situation” is the main reason why they go on ski holidays less often. If we take a closer look at the category “other, namely”, illness, pregnancy and small children are mentioned in addition to increased prices. It is striking that of those who say they go on winter holidays more often, 30% go on skiing holidays more often but for a shorter period. For 30% of the respondents who go on winter holidays more often, their own financial situation plays an important role. Under “Other, namely”, those who go on skiing holidays more often state, among other things, “a lot of overtime from the summer” and “more keen on winter sports”.
Length of winter holiday
42% of the respondents take 4 to 6 days for their skiing holiday, for almost a third it is 7 to 9 days. After all, 15% of the respondents stay more than 9 days on their skiing holiday, while 11% stay 1 to 3 days. The vast majority of respondents (75%) say that the length of their skiing stay has remained constant over the past five years. 16% of respondents now go on shorter ski holidays, 7% longer than before.
Shorter skiing holiday
More than a third of respondents say they are shortening their holiday for financial reasons, while 21% are cutting back due to a change in family circumstances. 16% say they enjoy a shorter ski holiday just as much as a longer one, and 13% say they simply have less time available. Of those surveyed who are planning a longer winter holiday, about half say they want to be in the snow as often as possible. Almost a quarter currently have more financial leeway and therefore go on longer ski holidays.
Wait for price development
Among the 3% who do not want to go on a skiing holiday this year, 38% said that their current financial situation was the reason. Another 10% prefer another type of holiday and another 10% cannot because of an injury. Reasons given for “Other, namely …” are: “Ski pass prices have become too expensive for me”, “My partner can no longer (ski)” and “I am not prepared to pay the prices demanded in the ski resorts.” Of the respondents who are not yet sure whether they will go on a ski holiday, 29% say they are still waiting to see how prices develop. 20% have not yet thought about a skiing holiday at all. Other reasons given were: “snow???”, “too expensive” and “family situation”.
Same or more budget
More than half of the respondents (56%) expect to have the same budget available for skiing holidays as before. Interestingly, 22% say they will have a higher budget this year, while 12% will be able to spend less on their ski holiday. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) say they will travel as usual despite the price increases. About 14% are not yet able to estimate this. Savings will mainly be made on accommodation, eating out in the restaurant in the evening or in the ski hut during the day. In addition, less will be spent on ski clothing, ski equipment and après-ski.
We are early bookers,
Interestingly, 35% of respondents who booked their holiday did so between 2 and 7 months ago, i.e. still in the previous winter season or at least before the summer holiday. Just under one third of the survey participants booked their skiing holiday in the past 2 months, i.e. in summer. Of all respondents, whether already booked or not, 36% said that they usually book their holiday one or two months before the planned holiday date. 34% do so 3 to 6 months before departure and 21% book within 1 month before departure.
Later booking due to
For 55%, booking behaviour has not changed in the last 5 years: They always book their holidays around the same time. 27% say they are currently booking their holiday later, while 3% are now doing so earlier. Of those who say they are now booking their ski holidays later, 54% say it is due to the weather and snow conditions. 14% are booking later this year due to a change in their family situation, while 12% think that developments in the world are a reason to wait. Holiday planning at work and taking advantage of attractive offers are also cited as reasons for booking later.
More availability
For 29% of the respondents, the main reason for booking a ski holiday earlier is the better availability of accommodation in the ski resorts. Other reasons given were “getting older” and a “larger winter sports group”.
Winter sports survey 2023 2024: ski holidays still hugely popular despite inflation
A few weeks ago, the winter sports websites Skiinformatie.nl, Snowplaza.nl and Snowplaza.be again conducted their annual survey on winter sports trends among Dutch and Belgian people. More than 2,000 winter sports enthusiasts participated. Below is a brief summary and a link to the entire survey.
16% go on winter sports more often than before
Of all those surveyed, almost half go on winter sports once a year. Over a third even go twice and 16% even more often. A small percentage (4%) do not go on skiing holidays every year. Almost three quarters of respondents have been going on winter sports about the same frequency for the past 5 years (excluding ‘corona winters’), while 16% go more often than before. 11% say they go less often.Financial situation reason to go less often, but also more often
Over a third give ‘financial situation’ as the main reason for going on winter sports less often. Interestingly, the financial situation also plays an important role for a quarter of the respondents who go more often: there is more money and time available for winter sports. It is also noteworthy that almost a fifth say they go on shorter winter sports trips more often.94% will go on winter sports, 60% has already booked
Of all respondents, 94% indicated that they will definitely go on a winter sports holiday next winter. 2% do not know yet and 4% say they will not go this season. Of the 4% who are not going, 35% say it has to do with their financial situation. This is absolutely 12 people. 9% choose another holiday and 9% also do not go due to injury. Of the respondents who say they do not yet know whether they are going, 30% say it has to do with the financial situation. Almost a quarter are waiting to see what the prices do. More than half of the respondents (60%) have already booked their winter sports holidays. 40% still want to do so.Same budget or more
More than half of those surveyed (60%) expect to have the same budget for winter sports as usual. Remarkably, a quarter says they will have a higher budget this year, while 5% says they will be able to spend less on the winter sports holiday. A large part of the respondents (39%) indicates that they will not make other choices because of price increases: they will do as usual. 12% cannot yet estimate. The most likely savings will be made on eating out and accommodation. In addition, more groceries will be taken along and less will be spent on winter sports clothing, equipment and après-ski.Austria still the most popular winter sports country
Austria remains the most popular winter sports country among the Dutch and Belgians: 64% goes here. This is followed by Italy, France and Switzerland. This order was the same in a previous survey.Over 60% buy ski pass on the spot at the till
Almost two-thirds of respondents buy their ski pass on site at the ticket office, while 3% buy on site from a vending machine. 15% buy a ski pass in advance, online, and 14% book a trip where the ski pass is directly included. The greater the discount, the earlier we are willing to buy a ski pass online. Within a week before departure, a clear majority, 5% find a nice discount. Conversely, people are willing to book a ski pass more than 6 months before the holiday when it gives a 30% discount on the ski pass.Skiing most important activity during winter sports
The main activity during winter holidays is overwhelmingly skiing: 89% have this as their main activity. This is followed by snowboarding with 6%. Besides skiing, a quarter says they like to go après-skiing and almost as many would like to relax or read a book next to their main activity. More than 16% say they also like to go winter walking, 12.7% like to go wellness and tobogganing is also an activity often undertaken during winter sports. Read the full study here> Winter sports study 2023 2024Insights: Autumn in the Alps
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