The ‘tank tourism’ just across the border in Germany comes to a standstill due to the corona measures. Petrol stations in the Dutch border region will probably respond to this.
Germany tightened up the rules this week for Dutch people who want to cross the border. From now on you must be able to submit a negative corona test, because our infection rate is considered high by the Germans. One of the consequences of this is that ‘just as quickly cheap refueling across the border’ becomes more complicated. The result: Dutch people stay in their own country for a refueling and the stations on this side of the border that are normally less attractive due to the high Dutch prices will respond to this. That is what Jan Pieter de Wilde, commercial director of Kuster Olie in Babberich expects.
De Wilde argues with it AD that a ‘price war’ is to be expected. After all, everyone wants to benefit from the fact that it is now precisely in the Dutch border region that refueling is taking place. “Due to the lack of refueling tourism, the turnover at Dutch filling stations in the border region will increase. Then it will be a mutual battle where you can refuel the cheapest. We get the ‘battle for the liter’ in the border region.”
Kuster Olie, which also has filling stations on the German side, is also experiencing the negative side of the new measures across the border. It is immediately a lot quieter now. De Wilde: “We were completely taken by surprise during the Easter weekend by the closing of the borders. By not being able to serve tank tourists, we see our trade cut in half in one fell swoop.” Incidentally, refueling in Germany has become slightly less attractive for the Dutch this year, as the advantage over Dutch prices is shrinking.