Older consumers boost online shopping in the Netherlands

By

Shomara Roosblad

Published
Dec 20, 2018

Online shopping in the Netherlands has rocketed amongst the over-65s, according to a recent report: In 2018, 45% of over-65s made purchases online, up from 25% in 2012.

Figures from Statistics Netherlands showed online shopping is on the rise amongst all age groups, but the sector saw the sharpest increase amongst consumers aged 65 and over.

Total figures for the population showed that in 2018, 78% of Dutch consumers, about 11.5 million people, acquired a product or paid for a service online, compared to 76% of Dutch consumers in 2017.
Ninety-four percent of consumers aged 25-45 said they purchased items online in 2018, compared to 83% in 2012. In the next age bracket, aged 45-65, 83% of consumers said they had bought items online in 2018, up from 64% in 2012.

Overall, clothing and sports products turned out to be the most popular items in 2018 with about 56% of shoppers having acquired those items during the year, a 25% increase on 2012.

Other popular products or services in 2018 were travel products, acquired by 50% of consumers; event tickets, at 46%; and household goods and appliances, which were in demand amongst 38% of consumers.