🧠 Calquify Intelligence
The Netherlands consistently has the highest or second-highest petrol prices in the EU at approximately €1.85/L — a deliberate government policy using fuel excise (accijns) as both a revenue tool and a behaviour-change mechanism to encourage public transport use and EV adoption, with Dutch fuel excise among the highest in the EU at approximately €0.79/L for unleaded 95
Dutch fuel price composition Q1 2026: crude oil + refinery approximately €0.60/L; distribution/logistics approximately €0.05/L; retailer margin approximately €0.05/L; accijns (fuel excise) approximately €0.79/L; BTW (VAT 21%) on total approximately €0.36/L. Total: approximately €1.85/L. Tax share: approximately 62%. The Netherlands deliberately maintains high fuel prices as transport policy: (1) Revenue: fuel taxes generate approximately €5bn annually for the Dutch state; (2) Behaviour: high prices incentivise use of the extensive Dutch public transport network (OV) and cycling infrastructure; (3) EV transition: high petrol prices make EV economics attractive — Netherlands has the highest EV penetration in non-Scandinavian EU (about 25% of new sales in 2025). The price gap between NL and its neighbours: NL €1.85/L versus DE €1.70/L versus BE €1.65/L — creates a meaningful incentive for Dutch border residents to fuel in Belgium or Germany (common practice along the German and Belgian borders).
Source: Ministerie van Financien accijns rates 2026; European Commission Oil Bulletin; ANWB brandstofprijzen
The EU's fuel tax disparity between member states — from approximately 35% tax share in some Eastern European states to approximately 65% in Netherlands/France/UK — reflects fundamentally different national philosophies on transport policy, with Western Europe using high fuel taxes as deliberate demand management while Eastern Europe uses lower taxes to maintain affordability for lower-income populations
EU excise duty comparison: EU minimum fuel excise is €0.359/L for unleaded petrol (Energy Tax Directive). Netherlands: approximately €0.79/L (2.2× minimum). France: approximately €0.68/L. Germany: approximately €0.655/L. Belgium: approximately €0.601/L. Italy: approximately €0.728/L (highest in major EU economies). Hungary: approximately €0.39/L (near minimum). Poland: approximately €0.396/L. Bulgaria: approximately €0.363/L (near EU minimum). The political economy: Western European governments with higher incomes have used fuel taxes progressively — revenue funds public transport investment; higher fuel prices reduce car dependency; social policy compensates lowest earners. Eastern European governments face different pressure: lower average incomes mean fuel costs represent a higher share of household budgets; political pressure to keep fuel affordable has kept excise near the EU minimum. EU harmonisation debate: the European Commission has repeatedly proposed raising EU minimum fuel excise; Eastern European member states block harmonisation citing affordability concerns.
Source: EU Energy Tax Directive (2003/96/EC); European Commission excise duty tables 2026; Eurostat income and fuel affordability data
The 2022 Russia-Ukraine war fuel price spike — Netherlands unleaded 95 reaching €2.40/L in June 2022 — was the most severe peacetime fuel price shock in European history, prompting unprecedented government interventions (Netherlands temporary fuel excise reduction, France remise carburant, Germany tank discount) that cost EU governments collectively over €100bn in foregone revenue and subsidies
2022 fuel price crisis timeline: January 2022: NL unleaded approximately €1.75/L; February 24 Russia invades Ukraine; March 2022: Brent crude reaches $130/barrel; NL unleaded approximately €2.15/L; June 2022 peak: NL unleaded approximately €2.40/L — new all-time record. EU government responses: Netherlands: temporary accijns reduction of €0.175/L (March-July 2022); France: remise carburant (fuel rebate) initially €0.15/L, later €0.30/L; Germany: Tankrabatt (tank discount) €0.30/L on petrol, €0.14/L on diesel (June-August 2022); Italy: temporary excise reduction; Belgium: diesel price cap. Total EU government revenue forgone/subsidies: European Commission estimate approximately €60-70bn across member states in 2022. Recovery: crude oil normalised 2023; prices fell significantly Q4 2023-Q1 2024; Q1 2026 prices approximately 25-30% below June 2022 peak. Key lesson: European governments have significant ability to influence pump prices via excise — but the political will to cut excise can create fiscal pressure and long-term dependency expectations.
Source: European Commission Oil Bulletin historical; IEA oil market analysis; Ministerie van Financien NL accijns timeline; German BMF Tankrabatt documentation
Unleaded 95 Pump Price by Country — Q1 2026 (€/L)
European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin Q1 2026
📋 Reference Data
Petrol and Diesel Pump Prices by Country — Q1 2026
European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin Q1 2026
| Country | Unleaded 95 (E10) | Diesel | LPG | Tax Share (95) | Currency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | about €1,85 | about €1,73 | about €0,95 | about 62% | EUR | Highest EU; high accijns policy; ANWB tracker app |
| Italy | about €1,81 | about €1,67 | about €0,80 | about 62% | EUR | High accijns; significant north-south price variation |
| Finland | about €1,79 | about €1,65 | N/A | about 61% | EUR | Nordic premium; high excise; good EV alternative |
| Greece | about €1,75 | about €1,58 | about €0,78 | about 58% | EUR | Higher than Balkan neighbours; island premium |
| Denmark | ~DKK 15,50 | ~DKK 14,20 | N/A | about 62% | DKK | High Nordic fuel tax; strong EV/cycling culture |
| Germany | about €1,70 | about €1,58 | about €0,85 | about 58% | EUR | Mid-range EU; Tankerkoenig app essential; regional variation |
| Norway | approximately NOK 19,50 | approximately NOK 17,80 | N/A | about 55% | NOK | High NOK price; EV adoption reducing demand; subsidised until 2025 |
| France | about €1,70 | about €1,57 | about €0,78 | about 57% | EUR | Relatively stable; E85 bioethanol cheaper option |
| Sweden | ~SEK 18,50 | ~SEK 17,00 | N/A | about 58% | SEK | SEK; carbon tax adds to price; high EV penetration |
| Belgium | about €1,65 | about €1,52 | about €0,77 | about 55% | EUR | Popular fuelling stop for Dutch border residents |
| United Kingdom | about £1,48 | about £1,53 | about £0,82 | about 52% | GBP | GBP en-GB; diesel surprisingly expensive; post-Brexit own regime |
| Ireland | about €1,72 | about €1,60 | about €0,80 | about 57% | EUR | Island premium; limited competition outside Dublin |
| Austria | about €1,62 | about €1,52 | about €0,79 | about 55% | EUR | Lower than DE/NL; popular for German border fuelling |
| Spain | about €1,58 | about €1,46 | about €0,75 | about 52% | EUR | Lower excise; affordable by EU standards; tourist areas similar |
| Portugal | about €1,65 | about €1,52 | about €0,77 | about 56% | EUR | Moderate; ENSE tracking; Algarve slightly higher |
| Czech Republic | ~CZK 38,50 | ~CZK 36,50 | ~CZK 22 | about 54% | CZK | Mid-tier; lower wages mean relatively expensive |
| Poland | ~PLN 6,60 | ~PLN 6,20 | ~PLN 3,20 | about 50% | PLN | Competitive; PKN Orlen dominant; near EU minimum excise |
| Hungary | ~HUF 640 | ~HUF 600 | ~HUF 380 | about 48% | HUF | Price-controlled periods end 2023; now market-based; affordable |
| Romania | ~RON 7,90 | ~RON 7,40 | ~RON 3,80 | about 46% | RON | One of cheapest EU markets; lower wages context |
| Bulgaria | about €1,30 | about €1,22 | about €0,68 | about 42% | EUR | Cheapest EU member; near EU minimum excise; low incomes |
ⓘ All EUR de-DE except UK (GBP en-GB), Norway (NOK), Sweden (SEK), Denmark (DKK), Czech Republic (CZK), Poland (PLN), Hungary (HUF), Romania (RON). Tax share = (excise duty + VAT) / total pump price × 100. E10 = 10% ethanol blend (standard in most EU states since 2021; check older cars — some pre-2000 vehicles may have rubber seal issues). Diesel prices have historically been lower than petrol across the EU due to lower excise rates — the UK is unusual in charging similar excise on both. Prices fluctuate daily with crude oil (Brent) and EUR/USD — the EC Oil Bulletin (published weekly) is the official EU monitoring source.
Annual Fuel Cost by Country — Average Car (15.000km, 7L/100km)
Q1 2026 pump prices × consumption
| Country | Price/L (95) | Annual Fuel Cost | vs EU Average | vs Netherlands | Diesel Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | €1,85 | €1.943 | most expensive | baseline | €1.818 | Most expensive EU petrol; diesel cheaper |
| Italy | €1,81 | €1.901 | +3% vs avg | −2% | €1.754 | High accijns; island premium (Sicily/Sardinia) |
| Finland | €1,79 | €1.880 | +2% vs avg | −3% | €1.733 | Nordic; high excise; good public transport alternative |
| Germany | €1,70 | €1.785 | −3% vs avg | −8% | €1.659 | Use Tankerkoenig app to find cheapest station |
| France | €1,70 | €1.785 | −3% vs avg | −8% | €1.649 | E85 bioethanol (€0,85/L) available for flex-fuel cars |
| UK | £1,48 | £1.554 (€1.800) | comparable | similar | £1.606 dearer | GBP; diesel more expensive than petrol — unusual EU pattern |
| Spain | €1,58 | €1.659 | −10% vs avg | −15% | €1.533 | One of cheapest Western EU markets |
| Poland | PLN 6,60 | about €4.950 PLN (€1.540) | −11% vs avg | −21% | similar | PLN; affordable vs local wages; near EU minimum excise |
| Bulgaria | €1,30 | €1.365 | −26% vs avg | −30% | €1.281 | Cheapest EU; fuelling stop for cross-border travellers |
| EU Average | €1,60 | €1.680 | baseline | — | €1.554 | Weighted average EU27 + UK + NO + CH |
ⓘ Annual fuel cost = 15,000km/year × (7L/100km consumption) × price/L = 1,050 litres × price. A driver switching from Netherlands to Bulgaria fuelling (e.g., expat moving) saves approximately €578/year in fuel costs alone. The UK is unusual: diesel (£1.53/L) is MORE expensive than petrol (£1.48/L) — in most EU countries diesel has lower excise and is 5-20 cents cheaper than petrol. UK equalised excise duties on petrol and diesel in the 1990s; EU is now gradually moving toward diesel parity as decarbonisation policy reduces the diesel preference historically embedded in EU excise structure.
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🔬 Methodology & Sources
Fuel Price Methodology
European Commission Oil Bulletin publishes weekly pump prices for unleaded 95, diesel, and LPG across all EU member states plus Norway, UK, and Switzerland. Prices include all taxes (excise duty + VAT). Tax typically represents 55-65% of pump price across EU member states. Crude oil cost (Brent) represents approximately 35-40% of pump price; refinery/distribution margin approximately 5-10%; retailer margin approximately 2-5%. EUR de-DE for all Eurozone; GBP en-GB for UK; NOK/SEK/DKK for Nordics; local currency for non-euro EU states.
Formula
Pump_price = crude_cost + refinery_margin + distribution + excise_duty + VAT | Tax_share = (excise + VAT) / pump_price × 100 | Annual_fuel_cost = annual_km / fuel_consumption × price_per_litre
CitationEuropean Commission Oil Bulletin methodology; IEA Oil Market Report; Eurostat energy price statistics.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Netherlands has consistently among the highest petrol prices in the EU because of its deliberate high fuel excise (accijns) policy. Dutch fuel tax composition Q1 2026: excise duty approximately €0.79/L plus 21% BTW (VAT) — tax represents approximately 62% of the pump price. The high excise is a deliberate transport policy: (1) Revenue — fuel taxes generate approximately €5bn/year for the Dutch state; (2) Behaviour change — high prices encourage use of the Netherlands' extensive OV (public transport) and cycling network; (3) EV transition — expensive petrol makes EVs economically attractive. The result: significant border fuel tourism — Dutch residents near the German or Belgian border regularly fill up across the border, saving approximately €0.20/L or approximately €18 on a full 90-litre tank.
Bulgaria consistently has the cheapest petrol in the EU at approximately €1.30/L Q1 2026, followed by Romania (approximately €1.42/L) and Hungary (approximately €1.40/L). These Eastern European member states keep fuel excise near the EU minimum (€0.359/L) due to political pressure to maintain affordability for lower-income populations. Outside the EU: Kosovo and Albania have even lower prices (approximately €1.10-1.20/L) but are not EU members. For EU-wide road trips, it's worth filling up in Bulgaria, Romania, or Hungary when passing through — the savings over Netherlands or Italian pump prices can be substantial on a long journey.
The European Commission publishes a Weekly Oil Bulletin every Monday covering pump prices for unleaded 95, diesel, and LPG across all EU member states plus Norway, UK, and Switzerland. The data is collected by member state governments from a representative sample of filling stations. Published as EUR/L for all countries (including non-eurozone, converted at current rates). The bulletin also shows the tax composition (excise + VAT) versus the pre-tax price component, allowing comparison of underlying fuel costs versus national tax policies. Access: freely available at energy.ec.europa.eu — the most authoritative source for comparing European fuel prices.
E10 (Eurosuper 10) is the standard unleaded petrol sold across the EU since 2021 — it contains up to 10% bioethanol (versus the previous E5 standard at 5%). The higher ethanol content reduces CO2 emissions per litre (bioethanol is partially renewable) but also slightly reduces fuel economy (ethanol has lower energy density than petrol). Compatibility: the vast majority of petrol cars manufactured from 2000 onwards are E10 compatible. Cars manufactured before 2000, some motorcycles, classic cars, and certain 2000-2010 models with older rubber components may not be E10 compatible — check your owner's manual or the European E10 compatibility checker at checke10.de. If incompatible: use E5 (often labeled 'Super Plus' or '98 octane' in most EU countries) — it costs approximately €0.10-0.15/L more than E10 but remains available.
Best fuel price apps by country: Germany — Tankerkoenig (most comprehensive; all stations in Germany; real-time prices updated every 15 minutes; mandated transparency since 2013 MTS-K law); Netherlands — ANWB Onderweg or Benzineprijs.nl; France — Prix-Carburants (official government app); UK — PetrolPrices.com or Motorway (also shows supermarket prices); Belgium — Carbu.com; Spain — Gasolineras.es; Italy — Prezzi Benzina. Pan-European: GasBuddy Europe (less comprehensive than national apps). Strategy: in Germany specifically, Tankerkoenig data shows prices typically lowest in early morning and rise during the day — refuel before 8am or after 8pm for best prices. Supermarkets (Lidl, ALDI, Carrefour, Tesco) typically offer 2-5 cents/L cheaper than motorway stations.
Sources & References
Data sourced from official institutional publications. Results are for informational purposes only. Last reviewed Jan 2026.
Data Disclaimer
Fuel prices are indicative pump prices Q1 2026 from the European Commission Oil Bulletin. Prices fluctuate daily with crude oil prices and EUR/USD exchange rate. Always verify current prices at the pump or via apps (Tankerkoenig DE, Anwb NL, PetrolPrices UK).
Fuel prices are indicative pump prices Q1 2026 from the European Commission Oil Bulletin. Prices fluctuate daily with crude oil prices and EUR/USD exchange rate. Always verify current prices at the pump or via apps (Tankerkoenig DE, Anwb NL, PetrolPrices UK).