Dutch motorists increase cross-border fuel spending
Dutch cardholders increased spending at Belgian and German petrol stations by 32 percent to approximately €1.5 billion in the first half of 2026. De Nederlandsche Bank reported that cross-border fuel transactions rose 20 percent to over 25 million.
Refueling across the border
Transactions at attended and unattended petrol stations in Germany and Belgium rose by 20 percent to over 25 million in the first six months of 2026.
The increase was sharpest in Belgium, where volume jumped 33 percent to 11.3 million payments totaling €593.6 million.
In Germany, transactions grew 11 percent to 14.2 million, accounting for €872.4 million in spending.
Conversely, domestic fuel transactions within the Netherlands declined by 3 percent to 187 million, though total domestic expenditure increased 4 percent to €6.6 billion.
Price differences played a significant role, with Dutch petrol and diesel prices at times exceeding neighbouring rates by 20 cents or more per litre.
Supermarkets lead card volume
Total card payments at domestic and foreign petrol stations reached €8.5 billion in the first half of 2026, representing about 8 percent of overall Dutch card spending.
Supermarkets remained the largest expenditure category at €24.2 billion, nearly three times the total spent on fuel.
Dutch debit and credit card usage in German supermarkets rose 108 percent since the first half of 2022, reaching 14.5 million transactions.
Restaurants, accommodation and fast food followed fuel as the next largest spending categories.
Taxes push consumers abroad
The data illustrates how persistent tax differentials inevitably push consumer spending across the border.
While De Nederlandsche Bank captures payment flows precisely, the numbers expose clear fiscal leakage for domestic tax authorities.
High national fuel duties simply accelerate economic substitution in integrated border regions.