Soaring temperatures, thunderstorms and floods are leading 38% of Dutch people to rethink their summer holiday plans, according to new research by the Dutch tourist board NBTC.

The board asked 7,000 people in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Britain, France, the US and China about their holiday plans and in total, 46% said extreme weather would influence their choice of destination.

But the Dutch, alongside the Germans, were the least likely to take extreme weather conditions into account. They were also the least likely to consider the impact on the environment when planning a holiday with just 37% saying it was an issue, compared with 44% of Belgians and 45% of the Germans.

However, just over half of those who said the weather was influential would opt for a different destination, rather than change the dates they planned to travel.

Higher prices have also led around half of those questioned to change their holiday behaviour, mainly by taking fewer holidays and opting for cheaper accommodation. Some 10% of the Dutch, for example, avoid the high season because of the prices and 29% said they are taking shorter holidays because of the cost.