Dutch businesses protest rising taxes and fuel costs

Ahead of Prinsjesdag, various Dutch sectors are protesting proposed tax increases and high costs. Eleven gas stations operated by the family business Vissers Energy are launching a discount campaign to draw attention to the composition of fuel prices. On September 15, these stations will offer a 50-cent discount per liter on Euro 95 (E10) and a 40-cent discount on diesel (B7) and LPG. The company aims to highlight that fuel prices are largely driven by excise duties and VAT, rather than pump operators.

Simultaneously, the industry organization Nederlandse Brouwers has launched a petition against a perceived accumulation of tax burdens on the beer sector. The organization warns of a combination of beer excise duty indexation, higher water levies, and the abolition of the small brewer rate. They argue that these costs could threaten the survival of many breweries and lead consumers to purchase beer in neighboring countries like Belgium or Germany, where taxes are lower, ultimately harming the Dutch economy and hospitality sector.