Increase in fuel taxes in the Netherlands at the beginning of January to protect public transport
Starting from January 1st, fuel taxes in the Netherlands will rise slightly after the Tweede Kamer, the Dutch House of Representatives, approved a proposal by the ChristenUnie party to redirect part of the budget initially allocated for extending the tax exemption for drivers for one year.
Gasoline taxes will increase by 5.5 cents per liter, diesel by 3.6 cents, and liquefied petroleum gas by 1.3 cents. This step aims to prevent planned budget cuts for public transport and ensure the continued operation of bus lines and other services, especially in rural areas.
The fuel tax discount was initially introduced after Russia's invasion of Ukraine to alleviate rising prices, and it was expected to receive more than 1.7 billion euros in next year's budget. After parliamentary amendments, about 1.3 billion euros remained for the discount, and the rest was allocated to public transport.
MP Pieter Grinwis from the ChristenUnie party confirmed that despite the rise in fuel prices, the impact is not catastrophic, and cuts to public transport would have much greater consequences. He pointed out that many rural bus lines rely on this funding, and the measure will also help limit the increase in passenger ticket prices.
The parliament also supported a proposal from GroenLinks-PvdA and Partij voor de Dieren to impose taxes on private jets. Starting in 2030, passengers on planes with fewer than 20 seats could face fees of up to 2100 euros per traveler, while fees for European flights could reach 420 euros. MP Stultiens mentioned that this measure could generate 58 million euros annually and encourage a reduction in private flights.