A considerably lower tax on petrol in Germany will ensure that the price difference with the Netherlands can rise to 50 cents from Tuesday. It causes crowds at gas stations just across the German border. There are also many people from Brabant among the bargain hunters.
The morning in Goch. For many people from Brabant, this is the easiest place to refuel in Germany. You only have to cross the border at Boxmeer for it. And that can be seen at the three gas stations that are located on the main road in the German town. Every pump is occupied and there are at least three cars waiting behind it.
A man from the Shell, one of the three gas stations, sends everyone to a good spot. “Yes, I have to supervise it,” he says. “Then it will run more smoothly. But it’s doable with the crowds now.” He quickly moves on. Just help a woman with gas.
“40 cents difference does make a lot of money.”
The people from Brabant who come to refuel mainly come from the east of the province. If you ask where they come from, you will hear place names such as Cuijk, Boxmeer, Beugen and Ledeacker. Logically, from that region it is the least far to drive.
Martijn from Ledeacker (30 kilometers away) takes two small petrol cans from his car at the HEM gas station. “One for the other car and one for the lawnmower. I’m here now,” he says as he fills them. “It’s about half an hour’s drive here. I always combine that with shopping, because I already did that here anyway. But with 40 cents cheaper petrol, it yields a lot.”
“Yes, the wines are also cheaper here”
Like Martijn, most people from Brabant don’t just come to refuel, but also to buy groceries. Like a man from Boekel (45 kilometers). “Yes, the wine is also cheaper here”, he laughs. Or Hans from Beugen (16 kilometers). “The fact that refueling is now so much cheaper is a bonus,” he says.
In the course of the morning it starts to get busier. “That will only increase,” says the manager of HEM.
That the line is getting longer is also due to something else. Not much later, a ribbon is stretched around the Esso on the other side. It is suddenly closed. In many places in Germany there is a pin failure that throws a spanner in the works on this first cheap day.
