Refueling will be a lot more expensive from Saturday. The excise tax credit introduced by the government in 2022 will be reversed. A liter of petrol will be 17 cents more expensive and a liter of diesel almost 12 cents more. For many, that is a reason to quickly fill up the tank and sometimes also several jerry cans. “It makes a difference again.”
The queues for the pumps at the Makro gas station in Best are getting longer by the hour. Prices have always been lower than at most other stations, but now that prices are a lot higher from tomorrow, many are willing to wait a little longer. “You are stealing your own wallet if you fill up tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”
“It’s quite busy here, but it’s still a quick refuel”, says Sam on his scooter. “My tank is so full, but I understand that motorists are queuing here. Everything is already so expensive. All those taxes on driving. That is no longer possible if you make a lot of kilometers.”
Unsuspectingly, Brian joins the back of the long line. “It’s always busy here, but now it’s really crazy. I didn’t know that prices are higher again from Saturday, but now that I know I understand these people. Refuel quickly.”
Öner is a little further on at the pump. “The government wants to earn some money again. The quarter has to be added again. As long as that happens, nothing changes at all. Refueling will be more expensive again at the end of the year, so I hope that petrol prices will drop a bit.”
In fact, it was so busy at the pump that the station’s tank was largely empty around 9:30 am. “I was here when a pump malfunctioned and I saw it right away. I immediately called to ask for a tanker to replenish the stock. Fortunately, it could come immediately,” says Nelly Mutsaars of Makro.
Some people even fill several jerry cans. “Really Dutch, isn’t it? These are for my engines. I fill it up at home and that way I immediately kill several birds with one stone.” A little further on, jerry cans are also being filled. “I have several petrol machines at home. All in all, it saves 25 euros, I think.”
“We have to make ends meet on our state pension,” says a couple who have just dropped off their granddaughter. “We heard about the price increase, so we went to fill up anyway. Now we have the time and we don’t mind waiting a bit.”
Still, there is someone who will go to a gas station down the road next time. There is nothing to do there and it only saves a few cents. “Now I was around here anyway. But next time I will continue, because now I am waiting here for 20 minutes.”