65 percent of people in the Netherlands sometimes do their shopping across the border to save money, a study by Kassa has found. Petrol, daily groceries and drugstore products are more affordable in Germany than in the Netherlands, even with promotional offers in Dutch stores. 

Dutch drugstores more expensive than German versions

In a price comparison study, Kassa looked at the prices of 13 A-brand products at drugstore chains from each country, Kruidvat in the Netherlands and DM in Germany. Products included hair dye, toothbrush heads and face cream. 

The results showed that the products at German drugstores cost on average half the price of those in Dutch drugstores. For example, a pack of four Oral B toothbrush heads cost 27,99 euros at Kruidvat while costing only 13,45 euros at DM. At Kruidvat, a basket of products cost 161,69 euros altogether, while the same products only cost 73,75 euros at DM. 

Even including the “1+1” offers, also known as buy-one-get-one, that the Dutch drugstore chain has, shoppers would still pay over 40 euros more at Kruidvat (159 euros) than the German DM (116,35 euros). 

65 percent of Dutch residents do shopping across border to save money

Kassa also surveyed 2.500 people in the Netherlands about cross-border shopping and found that 65 percent of consumers drive across the border to do their shopping and refuel their cars, many of whom go to Germany. 

By shopping across the border, around 40 percent of the Dutch residents surveyed saved more than 50 euros. Kassa calculated that even if someone living in Utrecht drives a medium-class petrol car to Emmerich for a basket of products from a drugstore, refuels in Germany and returns home, they would still spend 20 euros less than if they bought the products at a Dutch drugstore. 

Why are prices higher in the Netherlands?

According to Follow The Money, part of the reason products are more expensive in the Netherlands is because of the higher purchase price due to different packaging, for example products with labels that have Dutch on them. Higher taxes and excise duties in the Netherlands also play a role. 

However, another contributing factor is large manufacturers concluding strategic agreements with supermarkets pushing out smaller and cheaper competitors. They also set different prices in different countries to push their profits up.   

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