The reason is that most goods in the Netherlands are more expensive at this time than in neighboring countries. With the year-end shopping season approaching, more and more people in the Netherlands are choosing to shop across borders to save money.
With food, cosmetics, and household goods discounted by up to 25% across the border, many Dutch people are willing to take 400-kilometer round-trip bus trips to fill their shopping baskets.
Marleen Naipal spent 40 euros on a bus ticket, traveling hundreds of kilometers from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Bocholt, Germany, to shop for goods at a much cheaper price.
"Many products are at least half the price of those in the Netherlands, and if there's a sale, they're even cheaper. So I don't see the point in traveling a long distance to buy them," shared Marleen Naipal, a hairdresser from the Netherlands.
Marleen Naipal is not the only one. Many Dutch bargain hunters travel from cities like Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht to Germany. Some companies offer "affordable shopping" tours from the Netherlands, with some even suggesting overnight stays in Luxembourg so customers can enjoy the bargains.
When comparing prices of over 130 popular products, the Dutch consumer protection agency found that items in Germany were on average 15% cheaper than in the Netherlands. High-quality brands such as cosmetics and personal care products sold in pharmacies were even up to 25% cheaper.
A recent report by this agency shows that in the Netherlands, these items are often discounted, but still cannot compete with prices in Germany.
"In a very short time, prices have become very high in the Netherlands. As a result, many people with average incomes are struggling to make ends meet. This includes families and single parents with young children. So we really hope that this issue will be given attention in the elections," said Marleen Naipal.
High living costs are one of the most prominent issues in Dutch opinion polls ahead of the October 29th election.
Marcel Lubbers, a political science expert at Utrecht University (Netherlands), said: "I think the cost of living remains a significant issue for many people, and they will connect it to other topics such as housing or immigration."
The Dutch Market and Consumer Agency launched an investigation last month into food prices in supermarkets. The agency will examine what it believes are territorial supply restrictions as a cause of high prices in the Netherlands.
One of the territorial supply restrictions is the requirement that all labels must be legible to prevent retailers from importing large quantities of goods from abroad without Dutch labels.
Source: https://vtv.vn/hang-trong-nuoc-dat-do-nguoi-ha-lan-do-sang-duc-mua-sam-100251026192649424.htm
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