Netherlands

Fragrances in the Netherlands registered high single-digit retail current value growth in 2023, following a double-digit increase in 2022, to continue its post-Coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery. Retail volume sales also continued to rebound, albeit at…

Hypermarkets was the most dynamic grocery retailers category in current value terms in 2023. Although people are spending less on the extra services that were installed in hypermarkets over review period (eg prepared meals, cobblers etc) they are…

With rising prices in 2023 consumers sought ways to save money whenever possible. Despite hefty price increases in 2022 and 2023, private label bleach products remained inexpensive. Bleach is still seen to be an effective cleaning product, and many…

The recovery of travel helped depilatories in the Netherlands to limit the decline in retail volume sales to a marginal one in 2023, following a moderate increase in 2022. Strong growth in average unit prices spiked retail current value growth;…

Private label saw robust growth within dishwashing in the Netherlands in 2023, driving overall growth and outperforming branded alternatives, and rising fastest in automatic dishwashing. Rapid expansion within this particular segment was the result…

In terms of total volume sales, the spirits category was more or less static in 2023. As with other alcoholic drinks categories, current value growth was much higher as there was a substantial increase in average unit prices. Throughout the…

The total sales volume of beer recorded a decline in 2023. Further substantial price increases in both the on-trade and off-trade channels, together with mostly disappointing summer weather, negatively affected the category. Almost all categories in…

Tobacco in the Netherlands is heavily influenced by regulatory changes, shifts in consumer behaviour, and economic pressures. In 2023, cigarette sales declined for another consecutive year as the long-term shift away from smoking tobacco continued.…

Dutch workers embrace informal wear at most companies, making consumers less interested in formal work shoes which need polishing. At the same time, the hybrid form of working is also having some impact, as office workers spend time at home requiring…

This report analyses the market for cannabis in the Netherlands. For the purposes of the study, the market has been defined as follows:

Cookware experienced steady if unspectacular growth in 2023 due to the increasing trend of home cooking and dining. Although this trend has slowed since the end of the pandemic it still continued to fuel demand for high-quality cookware products as…

In 2024, sales of eyewear in the Netherlands are experiencing healthy growth, continuing the positive trend from the previous year. Despite facing challenges such as price increases and inflation, Dutch consumers consider eyewear an essential item…

In 2023, the demand for deodorants in the Netherlands was quite stable, with only a slight decrease in retail volume sales. This followed two consecutive years of slight growth as the category recovered from the downturn caused by the Coronavirus…

Overall volume sales in wine continued to decline in the Netherlands in 2023. Both off-trade and on-trade sales were hampered by an ageing consumer base and substantial growth in average unit prices across the subcategories. The long-term issues…

Fertiliser experienced slower growth in current value terms in 2023. Despite the Netherlands' strong tradition of horticulture and gardening, with a significant portion of the population actively engaged in these activities, the demand for fertiliser…

Despite the increasing competition from hypermarkets and discounters, supermarkets remains by far the largest grocery retailers category in the Netherlands, with it continuing to expand its footprint in 2023. Competition in supermarkets is still…

Grocery retailers are coming under pressure and have seen their turnover threatened by decreasing volume sales and increased competition from other grocery players and other players. As a result, they are looking for other ways to invest and increase…

Retail in the Netherlands saw positive growth in current value terms in 2023 but this was largely reflective of the impact of inflation and price rises rather than an increase in consumption. Many channels actually reported declining volume sales in…

With inflation remaining elevated in 2023 and disposable income decreasing, consumers were pushed to look for ways to save money. This benefited discounters, with these stores having a strong reputation for offering lower prices than supermarkets.…

Jewellery, as a product area, is anticipated to experience positive albeit subdued growth in 2023. Economic uncertainty coupled with escalating prices has led to a more cautious approach among Dutch consumers regarding expenditure on non-essential…

The sales of sunglasses in the Netherlands continue to thrive, benefiting from their positioning not only as essential protective accessories but also as fashion complements. With a heightened awareness of the dangers of UV light and an increasing…

While many alcoholic drinks categories struggled to achieve total volume growth in 2023, RTDs still recorded an increase in both total volume and current value terms. The increase in total volume was only modest, but with extreme increases in average…

Cigarettes saw another year of retail volume decline in 2023, with the smoking prevalence continuing to fall in the Netherlands, and the number of young people starting to smoke also decreasing. With the regulatory environment becoming ever stricter…

Spectacles are expected to record positive growth in 2024, driven by a continuous increase in the consumer base in the Netherlands. Dutch consumers view spectacle frames as essential items, similar to spectacle lenses, making them less likely to…

Value sales growth of wipes in the Netherlands continued to be significant in 2023, driven by high increases in price. Underlying factors that led to price increases included high transport costs, high energy costs and increased costs of raw…

In cat food in the Netherlands, mid-priced brands like Whiskas have benefited as some consumers previously buying premium options, especially in wet cat food, traded down. As cats are often more sensitive than dogs to changes in their diet,…

Sun care in the Netherlands benefited as travel and tourism flows continued to recover from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on mobility. As people started to travel more, there was an increase in beach and other holidays, which boosted the…

Consumer foodservice operators faced further cost hikes in terms of ingredients in 2023 as a result of soaring inflation. Price rises were also seen in energy, driven in part by the war in Ukraine. The Netherlands’ extreme weather during the year…

Retailers tried to stem the decline in volume sales in toilet care in 2023 by offering regular and deep discounts on rim blocks and rim liquids. These were mostly multi-buy offers, with discounts applied when purchasing three or four items – or…

Dog food in the Netherlands continues to be boosted by the growth in the dog population, albeit rising at a slower rate than that seen in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. This has helped to maintain positive retail volume…

In 2023, retail value sales of menstrual care recorded moderate growth in the Netherlands. More initiatives to compensate for menstrual poverty were seen in 2023 especially in some cities, where such activities have been in place for some time at the…

As COVID-19 restrictions were eased and shops re-opened in 2022, some consumers turned away from direct selling and showed more interest in going out again and visiting physical retail outlets. However, in 2023, consumers showed renewed interest in…

The ongoing shift towards digitalisation has influenced the consumption patterns of markers and highlighters, prompting manufacturers to adapt their marketing strategies by promoting alternative uses. Notably, there is a growing trend in hobbies and…

Alcoholic drinks in the Netherlands suffered a decline in total volume sales in 2023. At the same time, current value sales in both on-trade and off-trade terms registered robust growth as average unit prices for alcoholic drinks categories increased…

Pet care in the Netherlands continues to see consumers trade down in 2024. In a slowly improving economic situation, but with disposable incomes and purchasing power remaining under pressure, consumers are still looking to economise on pet food and…

Bed textiles saw only moderate growth in current value terms in the Netherlands in 2023 despite an increasing emphasis on home comfort and relaxation, which has been driven by lifestyle shifts. During the pandemic individuals spent more time at home…

Colour cosmetics in the Netherlands profited from the further recovery of the frequency of out-of-home social activities and events after the heavy mobility restrictions of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As with fragrances, colour cosmetics are…

The packaging industry in the Netherlands is undergoing a transformation due to a growing emphasis on sustainability, health-conscious consumer choices and eco-friendly alternatives. The rise in plant-based and vegetarian diets has led to a surge in…

Wall covering saw significant growth in the Netherlands in 2023 in current value terms. Demand rose as many people continued to focus on making home improvements, with changing wall coverings seen to be an effective and affordable way to achieve…

Pet products in the Netherlands is impacted by rising veterinarian costs. A growing number of pet owners are turning to OTC healthcare solutions as a first line of treatment for minor ailments. This trend is partly driven by the desire to manage pet…

Consumers in 2023 were on the look-out for surface cleaners offering high levels of convenience and (perceived) savings, and as such turned to multi-purpose cleaners in the hope that one product could do the bulk of the work, helping to slow the…

Cider is a minor category in the Netherlands, and in 2023, it saw substantial decline in both volume and current value terms. The decline in current value was limited because of a strong increase in average unit price in 2023. Still, the underlying…

The market for video games in the Netherlands saw healthy growth in current value terms in 2023. Video gamers are, in general, not significantly influenced by inflation and therefore continued to support the category despite the difficult economic…

In 2023, skin care in the Netherlands recorded a strong increase in retail current value sales, supported by inflationary pressure on prices, as retail volume sales declined. Hand care witnessed the biggest decline in retail volume sales and only a…

Overall, oral care in the Netherlands saw a minor decline in retail volume sales in 2023, while retail current value sales grew strongly. As was the case in many categories of beauty and personal care, the growth in retail value sales was mainly…

2023 saw private label players in laundry care strive to emphasise their strides forward in terms of sustainability, particularly in relation to product ingredients and the possibility of cool washes. A growing number of Dutch consumers were…

Home care in the Netherlands rose in value terms but declined in volume terms in 2023. Inflationary pressures and reduced disposable incomes led Dutch consumers to strive to save money on their weekly shopping, with home care products offering…

Dutch consumers are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of chemicals on their health and look to refrain from buying air care products that might potentially emit harmful chemicals, opting for more natural solutions instead. As a consequence,…

In 2023, hair care in the Netherlands recorded a strong increase in retail current value sales, inflated by high inflationary pressure on prices, as retail volume sales decreased slightly overall. However, the retail volume performance was mixed,…

In 2023, retail value sales of retail tissue in the Netherlands experienced solid growth. However, declining disposable incomes are leading some consumers to decrease their usage of toilet paper. Adjustments in their purchasing behaviour have…