By
Rebecca Gibson |
A total of 114,000 Dutch citizens embarked on a cruise holiday last year, according to figures collected by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Marking a 4% increase from the numbers recorded in 2012, the figures also indicated that around 68% of all Dutch cruise passengers preferred cruising in Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
“Far-away destinations like Asia, Australia and South America are also becoming quite interesting,” said Nico Bleichrodt, national director of CLIA Netherlands, previously known as the Dutch Cruise Council.
CLIA Netherlands has predicted that passenger numbers are set to rise even further in 2014, estimating that around 160,000 Dutch citizens will choose a cruise holiday. In addition, more cruise operators are expected to focus on the Dutch market, which is set to increase significantly, with numbers at Rotterdam predicted to almost double by 2015.
Currently, Cruise Port Rotterdam host around 30 cruise ships each year, with operators attracted by the city’s many tourist facilities and sites, as well as the fact that the port offers easy access to nearby airports and is a 30-minute walk from the newly renovated Rotterdam Central Station. The station, which was inaugurated on 13 March 2014 by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, is also connected to the European High Speed Rail network.