Dutch consumer groups have launched a major collective legal action against Booking.com, claiming that millions of Dutch travellers have been overcharged for more than a decade due to the platform’s anti-competitive prices.
The Dutch Consumers’ Association, working with the Consumers Competition Claims Foundation (CCC), argue that consumers are owed compensation as Booking.com has allegedly prevented hotels from offering better prices or terms elsewhere since January 2013.
The consumer groups’ case centres on Booking.com’s controversial pricing restrictions that prevented hotels from offering better prices or terms through other channels, including their own website. This meant that consumers booking through Booking.com or even directly with oftens were often paying inflated rates.
Bert Heikens, chairman of the CCC said, “Consumers have been paying too much for their hotel rooms for years. We’ve conducted an investigation, and it shows that Booking.com has been violating competition rules and consumer law since January 2013. Through illegal agreements and practices, Booking.com prevents hotels from offering lower prices and better conditions. Several European regulators have also already determined that Booking.com is acting unlawfully.”
Sandra Molenaar, director of the Dutch Consumers’ Association, pointed to additional deceptive practices beyond pricing restrictions. She accused the platform of routinely misleading users by offering fake discounts, providing incomplete pricing information, and fabricated scarcity.
The Dutch action follows the landmark European Court of Justice ruling in September 2024 that found Booking.com’s price parity clauses violated EU competition law.
This legal foundation gives the Dutch consumer groups confidence that their case has strong merit, particularly as it builds on existing regulatory findings across Europe.
Who can claim compensation?
Those who can submit a claim for compensation is currently limited to those who live/lived in the Netherlands at the time of booking and are at least 18 years or older. However, with hotels across Europe already initiating claims against Booking.com, if this consumer claim proceeds in a similar war, it could pave the way for other countries to pursue comparable action.
For those that are currently eligible, they must have booked a hotel room since January 1, 2013 at least once via Booking.com, a similar online hotel reservation website such as Agoda or Expedia, or online via a hotel’s website.
The estimate individual losses range from tens to hundreds of euros per person, though the exact amount will depend on booking history and the outcome of the legal proceedings.
The total damages being sought are substantial, with estimates reaching hundreds of millions of euros. This reflects not just the large number of potential claimants, but also the extended period which the alleged overcharging occurred.
Beyond the immediate financial compensation, the case could lead to more transparent pricing and genuine competition in the online travel booking market making pricing fairer for consumers.
The case covers more than 12 years of alleged anti-competitive behaviour, from January 2013 through to when Booking.com was forced to change its practices following regulatory pressure and court rulings.
