NOS News•today, 04:02
Starting this afternoon, it will be the May holiday at schools throughout the Netherlands. And that means that large crowds are expected on roads and airports.
The ANWB expects an extra busy evening rush hour for today, especially on the roads around the Veluwe and in North Brabant. The most delays are probably on the A2 and A27 from Utrecht to the south and on the A12 between Arnhem and the German border.
Abroad, the most delays are expected to occur on the A3 between Arnhem and the German city of Oberhausen and in Austria on the A10 between Salzburg and Villach.
Schiphol Airport is taking into account 10 percent more travelers this holiday than last year. Until May 12, around 3.3 million people will depart, transfer or arrive. Schiphol uses new security scanners to improve traffic flow at the airport.
Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport also say they are prepared for large groups of holidaymakers.
May holiday popular
This year the May holiday lasts at all schools from Saturday April 27 to Sunday May 5. However, schools can choose to add another week to that week, which is what happens in many places. There are also students who already had their first week of vacation this week.
The Dutch Tourism & Conventions Board (NBTC) noted earlier this week that the month of May is a popular holiday month. One in five Dutch people plans to leave then. Travel industry organization ANVR also drew this conclusion two months ago. In January there were 9 percent more bookings for the May holiday than a year earlier, when January was also a top month according to the industry.
