Arrive … Drive & Thrive: Weekly tips for navigating Dutch roads
Never fill up on a Monday in the Netherlands!
Did you know that on Mondays, almost no petrol station in the Netherlands offers a discount?
Many stations have a specific day when they give discounts, and in most cases, that day is Saturday. That's when you get the most discounts and at the most places. (Save some money, tjing tjing!)
The time of day you refuel can also impact the price. More and more stations are using 'flexible pricing' – rates that vary throughout the day. If you must fill up on a Monday, it’s best to do so in the afternoon or evening, as petrol is generally more expensive in the morning.
The most efficient ways to save fuel
Driving economically means accelerating gently, shifting up quickly, and keeping your tyre pressure at the correct level. But there are more ways to save fuel, like using a commonly forgotten button. Here are the most efficient tips!
1. Anticipatory driving
The most efficient tip for saving fuel is anticipatory driving. This means looking ahead and adjusting your driving behaviour to the traffic situation, avoiding sudden braking and acceleration. By driving more smoothly, maintaining a steady speed, and reducing the need to brake and accelerate, you’ll use significantly less fuel. Using cruise control on the motorway and avoiding high speeds also helps to lower fuel consumption.
In Dutch driving lessons, you're taught to constantly anticipate. Failing to anticipate well is the most common reason for failing the practical driving exam at the CBR.
We often see expat students with a driving style where they accelerate and brake frequently, often reacting only to what is directly in front of the car. The more you brake and accelerate, the less efficiently you drive.
So, try to drive as long as possible without touching the middle pedal. This means looking further ahead and driving less erratically.
2. Don’t coast in neutral
Many expats taking driving lessons with us tend to coast by pressing the clutch or putting the car in neutral, thinking the engine consumes extra fuel when rolling in gear.
The opposite is true: when you press the clutch or put the car in neutral, the engine continues to consume fuel. This isn’t the case when coasting in gear. In this situation, the engine cuts off the fuel supply. In all other cases, the engine still uses fuel.
3. Use the ‘Unknown Button’
The recirculation button in your car is mainly there to protect passengers from toxic gases, like when driving through a tunnel. But it also helps to cool the air inside the car much faster. The air conditioning doesn’t have to cool new warm and humid air constantly, making it much more efficient.
Fuel consumption can increase by up to 10% with the air conditioning on. And when you start driving in a hot car, it can rise to 20%. Using the recirculation mode reduces this significantly.
4. Fill your tank three-quarters full
It might sound like a silly tip, since you’ll pay less at the pump, but the truth is different. A heavy car requires more energy to move, which means higher fuel consumption. A full tank of 65 litres also weighs about 65 kilograms, so if you fill your tank three-quarters full instead of completely, your car is about 17 kilograms lighter. It’s worth keeping your car as light as possible. Remove any unnecessary items as well.
Washing your car regularly also helps. A smooth, clean car consumes less fuel – albeit marginally – than a dirty one due to lower air resistance. (Every little bit helps, right?)
5. Apply for a free fuel card for individuals
Most fuel cards are used by businesses. By collectively refuelling at certain stations, companies can save a lot of money. But there are also fuel cards for individuals. These cards can give you an immediate discount at the pump or allow you to build up credit that you can cash out later.
6. Take the bike!
