Judges in Assen have upheld a nationwide ban which stops petrol stations selling alcoholic drinks.

Petrol station owner Ewout Klok hoped to have the ban overturned after he began selling beer again in order to force a test case by refusing to pay fines.

Petrol station owners say the ban is unfair because motorway restaurants are allowed to sell beer and wine. Klok claims to have lost up to 35% of his turnover since the ban came into force in 2001.

The court ruled that a petrol station cannot be compared to a supermarket or motorway café. Nor did the argument that petrol stations in Germany and Belgium can sell beer cut any ice.

Klok now plans to take the issue to the European court of human rights, the NRC reported.