Flying from the Netherlands this summer just got pricier, with new research showing that the gap between plane and train tickets has never been wider for families.
A study by savings platform Raisin compared return journeys across ten popular European destinations for a family of four, and the results are… a tad horrifying for your wallet.
On average, flight prices soared 13.1% compared to last year, while train fares stayed almost flat.
Here’s what the price hike means for you
In practice, that 13.1% spike means that an average return flight for two adults and two children now costs around €914. That’s up from €808 in 2025, before you’ve even added baggage charges.
Now, let’s break down how much your luggage costs will add to the overall sum. KLM charges between €20 and €70 per bag per leg within Europe, so three checked bags for a family could tack on anywhere from €120 to over €400 per return flight.
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Train tickets, meanwhile, crept up just 2.5%, from €500 to €513 on average — putting the price difference at €401 in favour of the train.
London was the only exception
However, if your family has its heart set on a trip to London, flying actually works in your favour.
The Eurostar route through the Channel Tunnel comes in at €652 return for a family of four, compared to €554 by plane, making it the only destination in the study where the train is the pricier option.
So, how can you keep travel costs down?
According to Raisin researcher Jasper Berkhout, when you’re “dependent on high-speed lines to France or the UK, costs rise sharply.”
His practical advice is to book trains early to catch Deutsche Bahn’s Sparpreis (discounted early-booking fares). Meanwhile, for flights, you’ll want to check nearby airports like Weeze, Frankfurt, and Brussels rather than defaulting to Schiphol.
The good news is that with more train routes running directly from the Netherlands (including new night train connections to Switzerland and Italy), rail is an increasingly attractive alternative to flying.
Are you flying or taking the train for your summer holiday this year? Let us know in the comments below!
Just don’t fly. Specially with KLM, they will lose your luggage and refuse to refund you. Does not justify the premium ticket they charge for.