Dutch visitors are among the most valuable travelers to our islands and they have particular habits that you can tap into. This guide gives you the latest market sizes, how much of each island’s visitors come from the Netherlands, what they spend money on, and how offering iDEAL with Sentoo helps you capture more of that spend before and during the trip.
The moment that decides your sale
Dutch travelers like to be prepared; they research before going on vacation, try to find the best deals and usually prefer stayovers. Just picture this: Joep and Lotte in Utrecht. It’s Sunday. Two tabs open: “vakantie Bonaire” and “beste duikscholen Bonaire.”
They’re comparing options. They’re ready to book now… if checkout feels safe and familiar. And, for Dutch travelers, “safe and familiar” means iDEAL.
It was launched in 2005 by a consortium of Dutch banks and quickly became the “normal way” to pay online in the Netherlands. Every big webshop offered it. So did ticket sites, government services, utilities, and lots of local businesses.
What made it stick?
- You pay inside your own bank. No new account. No card number. Just the same bank app you already trust.
- Strong security by default. You confirm with your bank’s login, Face/Touch ID, or a code.
- Instant clarity. Money moves right away, and you get a clear “paid” message.
- Everywhere you shop. Because almost every Dutch merchant added iDEAL, it turned into a habit.
So when Joep and Lotte see “Pay with iDEAL” on a Caribbean site, it feels familiar and safe. One tap to open their bank app, confirm, done. That’s the moment the booking moves from “thinking about it” to “we’re doing this.”
By the numbers: In Q3 2024, iDEAL handled ~71% of Dutch online purchases by count. They processed 1.47 billion payments totaling €141B, almost the same value as all Dutch debit card spending. (Source: Betaalvereniging Nederland)
Translation: Dutch people trust it and use it, a lot.
Why this market matters
We reviewed recent tourism reports to show the real size of your opportunity. These numbers help you plan both online and in-person sales.
Curaçao
Total stayover arrivals (2024): 700,249
Arrivals from the Netherlands (2024): 249,581 → ≈35.6% of stayovers
Context: Europe accounts for 42% of stayovers; the Netherlands is the largest single-country market.
Source: Curaçao Tourist Board – State of the Industry Report 2024
Bonaire
Total stay-over visitors (2024): 182,181
Arrivals from the Netherlands (2024): 81,981 → ≈45% of stayovers
Context: The Netherlands accounts for 45% of stayovers, making it the largest single-country market in Bonaire.
Source: Bonaire Tourism Performance 2024
Saba & St. Eustatius (Statia)
Total stay-over visitors: Smaller numbers, special context, but still worth targeting. In 2023, about 5,700 tourists flew to Saba and 5,900 to Statia (both still below 2019 levels of 8,800 and 10,500).
Why the data is limited: First, very short runways mean only small aircraft can land, so there are fewer seats and flights. Second, most trips connect via Sint Maarten (SXM): 75–88% of all flights for Saba/Statia are to/from SXM, carrying 89–94% of their passengers. This hub pattern makes it more difficult to generate monthly island-level statistics. (Source: The Caribbean Netherlands in Numbers 2024)
Sint Maarten (Dutch side)
Total stayover visitors (2024): 473,132
Arrivals from the Netherlands (2024): 34,522 → ≈7.3% of stayovers
Context: The Netherlands accounts for 7.3% of stayovers, which is still in Sint Maarten’s top five country visitors.
Source: Tourism Analytics (Department of Statistics: Government of Sint Maarten)
Note on Aruba: iDEAL is not currently available in Aruba via Sentoo. If you believe your business in Aruba would benefit from iDEAL acceptance, please reach out to us; we’re tracking demand and exploring options.
What Dutch travelers plan (and could prepay) for
- Accommodation
- Restaurants
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Activities
- Groceries
- Entertainment & others
Action tip: Wherever planning happens (website, email, WhatsApp/IG DMs), offer “Reserve now” with a small deposit via iDEAL. For Saba, Statia, and Sint Maarten, deposits help stabilize demand; for Curaçao and Bonaire, they unlock earlier bookings and stronger cash flow.
Catch them when they’re ready to book
According to Google Trends, Dutch travelers typically start by searching for broad terms like “vakantie Curaçao” or “vakantie Bonaire.” That’s your chance to get in front of them early.
- In the Netherlands, people often search for: “vakantie Bonaire,” “vakantie Curaçao,” “Sint Maarten feest,” and terms that include Saba and Sint Eustatius (Statia).
- Use Google Trends to see which of these terms are rising.
- Then run Google Ads in Dutch that target those words, so your business shows up before travelers have chosen where to stay, eat, or dive.
Make the click count: let them reserve now and pay a small deposit through iDEAL. It feels safe and familiar, so more people will complete the booking.
Win the booking before they land
- Take deposits with iDEAL: Lock rooms, boat charters, dive packages, UTV rentals, sunset sailings. Prepayment and deposits reduce no-shows and make your week more predictable. Start small (e.g., €25 per person) and clearly state the policy.
- Put iDEAL in every “yes” moment: Website checkout, booking emails, WhatsApp/IG DMs, even printed QR codes at hotel desks or villa welcome books. If they can pay in 10 seconds inside their bank app, they usually will.
- Offer two buttons: “Pay now with iDEAL” or “Pay on arrival”: Many Dutch guests will choose “Pay now” when iDEAL is visible and easy; this pulls revenue forward and reduces risk.
- Aim your ads where demand lives: Run search and social in Dutch regions, with language like “vakantie Bonaire 2026,” “duiken,” “auto huren,” and “excursies.” Point those ads to a simple /nl page that shows “iDEAL accepted here,” a clear offer, and an instant Pay with iDEAL button.
Some examples
Website banner: “Traveling from the Netherlands? Book now and pay safely with iDEAL in your own banking app. Instant confirmation. No extra accounts.”
WhatsApp follow-up: “Thanks for your interest in [service/product]. You can secure your spot now with iDEAL. Here’s your link: [payment link]. We’ll hold it for 24 hours.”
On-island sign: “Yes, we accept iDEAL. Scan to pay, tip, or reserve your table for the weekend.”
Quick FAQ
Why not just accept credit cards? Because online, Dutch buyers expect iDEAL. Offering only cards adds friction and can hurt completion. iDEAL is the habit, and habits convert. Credit card purchases accounted for only 10% of Dutch online purchases in Q3 2024. (Source: Betaalvereniging Nederland)
Is iDEAL really that big? Yes, 71% share of Dutch online purchases in Q3 2024; 1.47B payments. (Source: Betaalvereniging Nederland)
Will deposits scare people off? Not when they’re small, fair, clearly explained, and when paying is effortless in their own bank app. Deposits are a standard tool to reduce no-shows.
Final word
Dutch visitors are your low-friction buyers. They are already looking for and researching rentals, services, activities and more. They are your secured sales if you meet their payment habit, put iDEAL in front of them early, make deposits normal, and use simple Dutch-language prompts in ads and messages.
Do that, and you’ll pull revenue forward, reduce no-shows, and greet guests who are already paid and ready.
What are you waiting for?
Just complete this form to get started → sentoo.io/contact
