July 10, 2015 · Team HG
Groningen rose 6 places compared to last year, making it the 8th most expensive city for outdoor cafes in the Netherlands. After two years, Amsterdam is once again the most expensive city for outdoor cafes in the Netherlands. The average price for a round of drinks on an Amsterdam terrace is €23.05, which is 5.5% higher than last year. On average, terrace prices have risen by 2.5% this year. Almere is the cheapest city for outdoor cafes in the Netherlands for the first time. These results come from the annual terrace survey of Van Spronsen & Partners hospitality consultancy.
The annual survey of the price of a round on a terrace (2 coffees, 2 soft drinks, 2 beers, and 2 rosé) reveals that Amsterdam is the most expensive city for terraces this year. A round costs €23.05 there. That Amsterdam is the most expensive city for terraces is not surprising in itself, given the fact that real estate and rental prices here are also significantly higher than elsewhere in the country. Amsterdam was in fourth place last year, but has taken over the top spot from Haarlem this year. The city is followed in the ranking by The Hague, Haarlem, and 's-Hertogenbosch, with Utrecht rounding out the top 5.
In Nijmegen, prices have risen the fastest this year by 7.5%, although the price for a round of drinks on a terrace remains lower than the national average. This can therefore be seen as catching up. Due to the price increase, the city climbs four places in the rankings to 17th place. Eindhoven is also rising sharply this year; last year the city was in 20th place, but due to a price increase of 7.3%, the city is now in 15th place.
The cheapest cities
A round of drinks on a terrace in Almere costs on average €2.98 less than in Amsterdam. Beer lovers, in particular, would do best to go to Almere, where a glass of beer costs an average of €2.27. A glass of rosé is cheapest in Almere at €3.23. Those who prefer a soft drink are best off going to Breda, and for a cup of coffee to Arnhem, with average prices of €2.14 and €2.07 respectively.
Terrace purchasing power highest in Amersfoort
For the study, terrace purchasing power is also determined annually by comparing the average disposable income of residents against terrace prices. This shows that residents of Amersfoort have the highest terrace purchasing power, with an average of 20.4 rounds per week. The city is closely followed by Breda, where residents can order an average of 20.3 rounds per week. In Groningen and Enschede, people can only spend 16.4 rounds per week. The average terrace purchasing power across all measured cities is 18.6 rounds per week. This represents a decrease in terrace purchasing power compared to the previous year, when people could afford an average of 18.8 rounds per week.
Rise in beer prices
The increase in the purchase price of beer has not been fully passed on to the Dutch consumer in recent years. Over the five-year period, the purchase price of beer rose by approximately 18%, while hospitality entrepreneurs raised the price of a small glass by only 9%.
Trends on the terrace
Radler is one of the most popular drinks at this time. Last year, only about 50% of all surveyed terraces sold it. RadlerThis year, 95% of the surveyed companies are selling Radler. The price of a Radler remained the same as last year, averaging €3.21. In terms of alcoholic beverages, cocktails such as Gin & Tonic, Hugo, and Aperol Spritz are also popular. Specialty beers are also doing well at the moment. Every self-respecting city has one or more ‘its own’ beers. Another trend is non-alcoholic drinks. 93% of the surveyed terraces are selling 0.0 beers on their terraces this year; last year, this percentage was 32%.
Many hospitality businesses are trying to serve drinks that you can't easily get at home. For example, the brand Fever-Tree offers various types of tonics. Old-fashioned lemonade is making a comeback in the hospitality industry, in all sorts of unusual flavors. Pinkyrose, for instance, offers a ‘Dark Caramel Sea Salt’ flavor, and Agroposta supplies small packages in various ‘adult’ lemonade flavors. But we are also seeing large pitchers of water combined with fruit and herbs more and more often. For next year, we expect to see drinks like vermouth and Tinto de Verano on the terrace. Tinto de Verano is a mix of red wine diluted with sparkling water or bitter lemon, ice cubes, and a slice of lemon. It is the simple version of a sangria and is also lighter, ideal for warm summer days.
