In total, 6.3 million foreign tourists spent at least one night in the Netherlands last year, down 13% on 2020 and 69% on the pre-coronavirus year of 2019, national statistics office CBS said on Monday.

The number of German tourists, traditionally the biggest group, fell 24% to 2.5 million, while the number of British visitors plunged to just 210,000 – down 60% on 2020 and 90% on 2019.

British tourists in particular faced tough restrictions for much of the year because of coronavirus. Most attractions, including museums and cafes, were also closed for a large part of the year

The number of Belgian tourists was stable year on year, but half the 2019 total, the CBS said.

By contrast, the Dutch booked 25.7 million nights in a domestic hotel, campsite or holiday park, a rise of 28% on 2020 and unchanged from 2019.