‘If we want to ask for directions, we can do that in Dutch’

Girls in blue mermaid outfits who roll into the sea screaming and drunk. A 37-year-old bachelor in a green Borat mankini who has to be waxed by strangers on the street for his bachelor party. And Dutch teenagers walking along the boulevard with bottles of liquor. The Costa Brava, and in particular Lloret de Mar, has made a comeback as an attraction for lovers of nightlife.

In 2019, before corona broke out, about two million Dutch people went to the Costa Brava in the summer months. In 2020 there were less than half a million. According to figures from the Catalan government, that number is recovering.

KFC

After a boat party, four Dutch school friends from Aerdenhout walk into the KFC on the boulevard of Lloret de Mar, the Passeig d’Agustí Font, just after ten on Friday evening for a quick bite. They take a seat on bar stools at a high standing table. “We are really recovering from exam stress here,” says Nora (16). “Sleep in and relax a lot,” shouts Olivia (16). “And went to the beach a lot,” adds Jasmijn (15). Giulia (15) adds to her friends: “We all had a nice lunch and in the end we went to clubs almost every evening”.

The girls have been on the Costa Brava since last Monday. They especially like the fact that there are Dutch people walking around everywhere. It gives them a sense of security and confidence. “If we want to ask for directions, we can just do it in Dutch,” says Nora with her blond curls while she eats a fries.

“In the supermarket here you also have all kinds of Dutch products, such as peanut butter, and many things are indicated in Dutch,” says Giulia. “That’s really handy.” But that’s not the reason they chose Lloret de Mar. “We really wanted to party above all,” Olivia and Nora say with a laugh.

GOGO

Normally, youth travel organizations such as GOGO offer an exam package to Lloret de Mar, but because a lot was closed in Spain during the pandemic, the offer lapsed. “Our Greek destinations are now much more popular, because they were open last year,” says GOGO’s Martine Langerak in a response. In Greece Langerak sees a growth of 115 percent compared to 2019. In Spain this is 20 percent and Portugal 10 percent.

There is no sign of declining popularity on the street in Lloret. It is not possible to walk through, because the crowds are blocking the footpaths. If you come by car, stop. Finding a parking space is also impossible. The smells of kebab and shisha hang in the air. Two rescuers in green vests walk on each side of the boulevard. The Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police, circles and observes. The Saturday night, apart from some minor disturbances, is almost without incident, so no intervention is necessary.

Dutch rap

Every evening around half past ten, the group from Aerdenhout goes to a club. “Sometimes a little later, because the doors of club Tropics open later,” says Olivia dressed in a red bikini top with a white blouse over it. “The party really goes on there until 5 a.m.,” says Olivia in turn. When asked whether they will party until then, the four friends shout in unison: “No!”. “It’s just a little too late for us. We only made it very late once. Until 3 a.m.,” says Jasmijn.

Tropics is a disco where many Dutch young people go. Especially in the summer months you mainly hear Dutch in the queue in front of the entrance. Even the bouncers and bartenders speak a little bit of Dutch. Once inside, you can hear Dutch-language rap and hip-hop music thumping through the speakers with the occasional Spanish song through it.

The girls from Aerdenhout spend about 750 euros per person on their exam trip – for a plane ticket, accommodation costs and living allowance. Olivia paid for her trip all by herself, she says proudly. Jasmijn: “My parents paid half and with my part-time job at Albert Heijn I was able to supplement the rest. The same goes for Nora, who works as a seasonal worker in a beach club. “I don’t earn anything with that now, so I saved up my pocket money and used it for this. My parents paid for the ticket and the house.” Giulia also received the ticket and the accommodation costs as a gift. The rest comes from her piggy bank.

‘That’s how we keep an eye out for each other’

The girlfriends have one rule during the holidays: out together, at home together. “No one walks alone on the street or stands alone in the club,” says Jasmijn. “We are always in groups of at least two,” Giulia adds. “That way we keep an eye out for each other,” says Olivia.

The girls return to their apartment, where they get ready for one last night out. The next day they leave again for Aerdenhout. Soon they will be able to pack their bags again, because a holiday with the parents is also planned.

The surnames of the minor interviewees are not mentioned, but are known to the editors.