On Wednesday, the price for a litre of petrol in the Netherlands rose to 1.895 euros, matching the record set way back on October 2, 2012.

1.895 euros per litre of petrol

After 2020 saw relatively low petrol prices, the cost of fuel has been on the rise since the start of 2021 as the price of a barrel has more than doubled since last spring (65 dollars versus 30 dollars). These prices can mostly be found at petrol stations on the highway, whereas elsewhere prices can be up to 10 or 20 cents lower.

Paul van Selms, director of consumer collective UnitedConsumers, notes that prices are also on the rise due to low demand for other oil-based products, such as kerosene (aircraft fuel). People may not be flying or travelling internationally as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but there is still a demand for petrol. The dollar to euro exchange rate also impacts the price.

The cost of diesel and LPG has also increased over the past four months, almost reaching the records set in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Diesel now costs 1.525 euros per litre (compared to 1.558 in October 2021) and LPG costs 0,95 euros (compared to 0,946 in January 2014). 

The Netherlands the most expensive country for petrol tax

Figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) in April revealed that owning a car in the Netherlands isn’t particularly expensive. In spite of high petrol prices - and how expensive it is to acquire a driving licence in the Netherlands - a car costs an owner an average of “only” 2.158 euros per year.

Of the 13 countries surveyed by ACEA, the Netherlands ranked sixth. Belgium is the most expensive country to own a car, where motorists pay an average of 3.187 euros per year. But drivers in the Netherlands put more money towards their vehicle than German (1.963 euros per year), French (1.911 euros), or Spanish (1.068 euros) vehicle owners.

ACEA found that the Netherlands is the most expensive country when it comes to petrol tax. Here, motorists pay 813 euros in tax for every 1.000 litres of petrol, in comparison to 345 euros in Hungary.