There was a 6% rise in the number of overnight stays in Dutch hotels, holiday villages and campsites in 2014, the national statistics office CBS said on Thursday.

The increase, which took the total to 36 million, was largely due to foreign visitors, mainly from Germany, Britain and Belgium, the CBS said. Their number was up 9%, the CBS said.

One reason for the increase in Belgian and German tourists could have been the good weather before and after the main summer break, the CBS suggested. The Netherlands is also popular with British tourists because of the favourable exchange rates.

There were also more tourists from Australia, Africa and Asia but their number is not high enough to have a significant impact on the figures.

The increase in holidaymaker numbers – both Dutch and foreign – was biggest in Zeeland at 17%, but there were also more visitors in Noord-Holland (up 9%) and Zuid-Holland (up 8%).

The figures do not include people who stayed in bed and breakfast and Airbnb type accommodation.