Dutch shoppers flock to Germany as fuel tax cut adds to cross-border bargains

Dutch consumers are increasingly shopping in Germany, with cross-border payments in German supermarkets more than doubling in four years to 14.5 million transactions in the first half of 2026. Germany also cut fuel excise taxes by 17 cents per liter on Thursday, potentially drawing more Dutch drivers. Dutch shoppers cite significantly lower prices on items like makeup, soap, and toilet paper, with one family saving 250 euros on two full carts. German retailer DM now advertises in Dutch border towns, and fuel purchases in Germany rose 11 percent, while tobacco purchases abroad reached 60 percent. The trend reflects lower German excise taxes on fuel, tobacco, and alcohol, plus cheaper goods due to larger-scale retail purchasing. Dutch tax revenue from tobacco excise fell 830 million euros below budget in 2025, while local German towns face mixed feelings about increased traffic.