Happn: Singles View Holidays Apart as an Early Relationship Test
A recent survey of Dutch singles highlights how upcoming holidays influence conversations about exclusivity and expectations in the early stages of dating. Conducted by dating app happn among 600 of its users in the Netherlands in July 2026, the study explores attitudes toward time spent apart, contact frequency, and boundaries when one person travels.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) see a holiday spent separately as a useful test of whether interest is genuine. A further 15% believe distance can strengthen a connection, while only 8% worry that momentum will fade. Almost half (47%) say an upcoming trip brings the exclusivity discussion forward.
Thirteen percent want clarity before departure, and for 34% the decision depends on how long the pair have been seeing each other. Among Gen Z respondents, seven in ten view a holiday as a reason to clarify the direction of the relationship sooner.
Expectations around exclusivity itself vary. More than half of Dutch singles (55%) believe both people should stop dating others after no more than five dates. However, 37% say exclusivity only applies once it has been explicitly discussed. This gap between assumed and stated boundaries appears frequently in the findings.
While this survey was only done on a relatively small part of the population, it could be a sign that attitudes are changing when it comes to dating and holidays abroad – as well as the exclusivity it carries. Dating platforms might be able to capitalise on holiday flings, but there is also a good chance that these matches would be very temporary, whereas easier communication or check-in tools with not-yet-fully-committed matches abroad could end up being appealing to a good chunk of users.
Loyalty while travelling also shows mixed patterns. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those dating someone at home would temporarily pause their dating apps during a holiday. Of the remaining 37%, 18% would limit activity to existing matches, 13% would meet new people, and 5% would browse without arranging dates. Communication preferences lean toward flexibility: 48% prefer messaging whenever it feels natural, 26% want to check in a few times a week, and 22% expect daily contact. Only 4% would prefer to reconnect fully after the holiday ends.
Hypothetical new connections while away raise further questions. When exclusivity has not been agreed, 38% of respondents do not feel obliged to mention a holiday crush to the person at home. Twenty-one percent would share the news immediately, 10% would wait until returning, and 30% would disclose only if physical contact such as a kiss had occurred. Joint travel carries a higher threshold. Forty-one percent of singles would book a holiday together only after the relationship became official. That figure rises to 59% among 18-to-25-year-olds.
