Table for one: half of Dutch people sometimes eat out alone

Just over half (51%) of Dutch people sometimes visit a restaurant alone for lunch or dinner. The other half (49%) prefer to do so in the presence of company. This is according to research conducted among 1,000 Dutch consumers by checkout and payment platform Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD). 

Dutch people who choose to eat out alone do so for various reasons. Almost one in three (29%) do so for relaxation and to take time for themselves. A quarter (24%) go out alone because they are travelling for work, one in five (20%) when it comes to lunch at work and 17 per cent say they enjoy visiting a restaurant alone. True restaurant lovers (14%) go alone to try out new places and nine per cent do solo dining because it is easier for them to get a table for one at a popular restaurant.

Dutch restaurant-goers also enjoy themselves without tablemates. Just over half (51%) like to watch other people when sitting alone in a restaurant and almost two in five (39%) enjoy being in peace and quiet. The smartphone or laptop is also often grabbed to read or answer emails (30%). More than a quarter (26%) scroll through Instagram or Facebook, 18 per cent watch TikTok videos and nine per cent listen to a podcast.

Also, 23 per cent reveal that once they are eating out alone, they choose a new dish from the menu if they have not tried it before. In addition, 14 per cent say they visit a restaurant alone to meet new people and make connections.

"Visiting a restaurant is an experience where you are taken care of and pampered," states Emine Youssef, Hospitality Director Benelux at Lightspeed. "Enjoying alone in a restaurant is something that quite a lot of people can look forward to, but at the same time something that has a certain stigma around it. The feeling of sitting alone at the table is uncomfortable for many guests. Yet visiting a restaurant alone offers guests the chance to dine at length, listen to a podcast, as well as enjoy some peace and quiet. When guests come to lunch or dinner alone, this is also a great opportunity for the service to strike up a conversation, provide personal service and, above all, make them feel that it is not strange for them to be alone at the table. Everyone deserves a casual restaurant visit."

The survey was conducted by Lightspeed. A total of 1,000 consumers in the Netherlands participated in this survey.