'Border stations are at risk'

‘Rising petrol prices are leading to a faster decline in the number of petrol stations in the Netherlands’

Hoewel er al langer signalen zijn dat het aantal tankstations in Nederland geleidelijk afneemt, zorgt de Irancrisis er volgens ING voor dat deze ontwikkeling sneller kan gaan. Foto: ProMedia, 2026

Due to the rise in petrol prices resulting from the war in Iran, the number of petrol stations in the Netherlands is likely to fall at a faster rate in the coming years. This is the prediction of Dirk Mulder, sector banker at ING. According to him, petrol station owners in the provinces bordering Belgium and Germany – particularly those located solely in these areas and without a shop – are at risk.

This was reported by the ANP on Tuesday. Furthermore, figures obtained by the news agency from the automotive trade organisation Bovag show that the number of petrol stations fell slightly last year. In June this year, the number of petrol stations stood at 4,084, sixteen fewer than in June 2025. Martin van Eijk, chairman of Drive, the trade association for independent petrol stations, says that “a few” petrol stations near the border have closed because they are still attracting too few customers due to lower fuel prices abroad.

The petrol station sector has long been complaining about higher fuel prices in the Netherlands, particularly when compared with Belgium. The main reason cited is the higher excise duties in this country. Oil prices have risen since February due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has meant that almost no oil tankers are now passing through this vital waterway. According to figures from the consumer group United Consumers, petrol and diesel prices rose to new record highs earlier this year.

Number to halve

Before the war began in late February, Mulder stated in a publication that the number of petrol stations was expected to halve over the next five to ten years, from around 4,000 locations to approximately 2,000. However, due to higher fuel prices resulting from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he now believes this decline may occur slightly faster than anticipated in the first five years. Many petrol station owners near the borders are already seeing a drop in the volume of fuel sold and a fall in turnover, according to Mulder. People are filling up more often across the border because of the lower prices there, partly due to higher fuel excise duties in the Netherlands. Belgium also imposes price caps.

These effects could lead to financial difficulties and less money available for investment, he told the ANP. “We are increasingly moving towards hospitality and retail at petrol stations, as well as towards electric driving. Petrol stations must keep pace by investing in charging infrastructure. The moment your capacity to invest declines, you start to fall behind the rest of the market.” Business owners will then have to consider whether to close their petrol station or sell it to another party, Mulder adds.

Huge difference

The official maximum fuel prices in Belgium have been set, with effect from 25 August 2026, at 1.966 euros per litre for Euro95 (E10) and 2.315 euros per litre for diesel. The average national recommended retail price (GLA) for fuel in the Netherlands today is 2.609 euros per litre for Euro95 and 2.646 euros per litre for diesel. This means that Euro95 in Belgium is currently, on average, just over 64 eurocents per litre cheaper than in the Netherlands; for diesel, the difference is just over 33 eurocents per litre. Fuel prices at unmanned stations away from the motorway in the Netherlands are often considerably lower than the GLA.

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This article was automatically translated from the original Dutch text into English (British).

Author: Paul Blonk

Source: Mobility Energy

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