Fewer museum visits in 2024 than before pandemic

© ANP / Ton Toemen
Almost 32 million museum visits were made in the Netherlands in 2024, around the same number as in 2023. But that was 2 million fewer visits than in 2019, the year before the coronavirus pandemic. Older people, in particular, now visit museums less frequently. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of newly released figures.

Museum visits are down across all age groups, but the decline is the largest among people aged 65 and over. They made 7.1 million museum visits in 2024, which represents a fall of 19 percent compared with 2019, when they made 8.8 million museum visits. Over the same period, however, the number of people in the country aged 65 and over actually increased by 11 percent.

Museum visits by tourists from abroad also down

Of the 32 million museum visits, 8.8 million visits were made by visitors from abroad (28 percent of the total). In 2019, the number was 10.3 million. Since the pandemic, the number of museum visits made by tourists has risen every year, but in 2024 the number was still 15 percent lower than it was in 2019.

At the same time, however, the number of visitors from abroad making overnight stays in the Netherlands grew rapidly over the same period: this was 19 percent higher in 2024 than it was in 2019.

11.9 million museum visits at full admission price

The full admission price was paid for 11.9 million museum visits in 2024 (i.e. the standard admission price without any discounts). That was 7 percent less than in 2019. The number of discounted tickets sold was down by 24 percent from 2019. Discounted museum tickets were bought by visitors with a pass (CJP culture pass, friends pass or local or regional discount pass). More museum visits were made by holders of a Museum Card in 2024 (+2 percent). There were also 3 percent more free museum visits.

How many visits did we make to museums? How many visits did we make to museums? *provisional figures 2019 2024* How many visits did we make to museums? *provisional figures 2019 2024* 6.0 million with discount 4.6 million with discount 12.8 million full price 11.9 million full price 6.0 million free 5.9 million free 9.2 million with Museum Card 9.4 million with Museum Card
How many visits did we make to museums?
Type of ticket 2024* (million) 2019 (million)
Visits full price 11.9 12.8
Visits with discount 4.6 6
Visits Museum Card 9,4 9.2
Visits free 6 5.9
*Provisional figures
 

Admission prices have risen

The average admission price that visitors paid for a museum visit in 2024 was 22 percent higher than it was in 2019. This reflects inflation over that period (an increase of 22.7 percent in the consumer price index). The largest price increase in relative terms has been the average admission price for children aged 12 or under, which has risen by 25 percent. Most of that price increase took place between 2019 and 2021, while admission prices for adults and senior citizens rose after 2021.

Sources