Most Dutch people continue to ignore Valentine´s Day, despite the efforts of retailers, restaurants and event organisers to stimulate interest in the celebration, according to research by ING economists and quoted by the Telegraaf.

They found just one in five people planned to give their loved one a Valentine´s Day gift and the average amount they spend is €16.

While perfume and flowers are cheaper this year than in 2015, chocolates have gone up nearly 3% in price because of a 10% rise in cocoa prices, the ING economists said.