The Dutch treasury is missing out on over €1bn a year because so many motorists fill up their cars with petrol in Belgium and Germany, where fuel is cheaper, according to research by garage owners.

The report, drawn up on behalf of the Bovag and Nove organisations, shows 53% of people who live up to 20 kilometres from the German and Belgian borders regularly fill up their cars abroad.

If Dutch petrol prices rise again, that percentage will rise to 66%, the report states. Dutch taxes on petrol are set to increase in January next year.

According to fuel price comparison websites, a litre of unleaded petrol costs € 1.84 per in the Netherlands, making it the most expensive in Europe. A litre of fuel costs around €1.71 in Belgium and €1.60 in Germany.

Some 890 petrol stations, of which 560 are manned, are close to the Dutch borders and under threat because of the price differences, Bovag says.