Study: Half of Dutch People Pack Clothes for Vacation Knowing They Won’t Wear Them

The summer holiday season is approaching. An overstuffed suitcase and returning home with a pile of unworn clothes are far from uncommon: for many Dutch people, it is a familiar phenomenon. Research commissioned by PME Legend and conducted by PanelWizard among 1,025 Dutch respondents shows that 51% of Dutch people pack clothes that they already expect not to wear. In the end, 62% do not wear all the clothes they brought on vacation. According to consumer psychologist Patrick Wessels, there is a clear explanation for this: “The fear of bringing too few clothes stems from loss aversion and anticipated regret.”

Dutch People Favor Versatile Combinations and Personal Style

Although many Dutch people ultimately bring more clothes than they wear, they do put considerable thought into their vacation wardrobe. For example, 76% say they pack clothes that can be combined in different ways. An equally large group considers having a personal style more important than following the latest fashion trends. Nevertheless, this conscious approach does not always succeed in keeping suitcases compact.

Better Safe Than Sorry: Packing Extra “Just in Case”

For many Dutch people, the desire to be prepared for every situation ultimately outweighs the wish to travel light. As a result, 43% worry about running out of clothes while on vacation, and more than half (51%) deliberately pack extra clothing despite already knowing that some of it will return home unworn.

According to Wessels, this is a recognizable psychological pattern. “Our brains want to avoid feelings of loss or regret afterward. Because we are personally responsible for what goes into the suitcase, we would rather bring something extra than risk not having what we need.”

He explains that this tendency develops long before the vacation even begins. “When we think ahead, we imagine all the things we might do: a day in the city, a trip to the beach, a mountain hike, sports activities, or a nice dinner out. We create suitable outfits for all these situations in advance.” It is precisely this anticipation that makes bringing many different clothing items seem reasonable. “We prepare for a wide range of scenarios, while in reality there is often not enough time for all of them. As a result, we bring more than we actually need.”

Young Adults Pack Thoughtfully, Yet Still Bring Too Much

Among people aged 18 to 30, this contradiction is even more apparent. Although they tend to be highly deliberate about their vacation wardrobe—85% try to pack clothes that can be mixed and matched in multiple ways, and 86% value personal style more than the latest fashion trends—they are also relatively likely to overpack. In fact, 58% intentionally bring clothes they already expect they probably will not wear.

This pattern continues during the vacation itself: only 37% of young adults end up wearing every item of clothing they packed. More than half also worry about not having enough clothes while away.

“Interestingly, the generation that most consciously chooses a personal and versatile wardrobe is also the most inclined to pack extra clothing ‘just in case,’” says Wessels.

Women Pack More Often Out of Uncertainty Than Men

There are also clear differences between men and women. While 33% of men worry about not having enough clothes on vacation, this concern applies to 52% of women. This uncertainty appears to influence packing behavior as well. As many as 57% of women deliberately pack clothing they already expect they will probably not wear. Only 28% of women end up wearing all the clothes they brought with them during their vacation.

The results show that many Dutch people think carefully about their vacation wardrobe, but the desire to be prepared for every possible situation often outweighs the goal of packing lightly. As a result, they tend to bring a little more than they actually end up needing.