Red Diesel in Holland

[johnnycomelately]

Having read through the many posts( on or around the 11th of this month) regarding the "illegal" use of red diesel bought in the uk, I am still not sure how we stand.
We are hoping to cross the North sea again this summer and will almost certainly arrive in Holland with fuel still in our tanks. Should we drain off our tanks before we go and only use 'white' or are we OK to go with the red? Who knows the definate answer? do you thik it would do any good ringing the Dutch embassy? any advice would be gladly received as swmbo isn't happy about going till we know one way or the other. Cheers Ian

 

[sailorman]

we plan to go in july, intend to take reciepts + info gleaned from here

 

[Marsupial]

The situation as outlined by the Dutch is clear and unambiguous - YOU (assuming you have a British reg pleasure craft) are not allowed to USE red diesel in the Netherlands, if you do and are caught you will be fined. The fine will be based on your fuel capacity - not the amount of fuel you have on board.

However misguided these "rules" may seem they are the rules.

Think of it in the same way as taking oranges into California or Honey into the UK, or fluids on Aircraft.

Until the rules change allowing the USE of red diesel I will not be going to Holland.

 

[Roger_D]

Why not organise a boycott? Sadly a few hits of poor unsuspecting folk will more than outweigh the loss of custom from our (uk boats) visitations. I for one will personally write to the Dutch to say I am cancelling my planned trip to Holland. (Do they also nail the Belgians?)

 

[Gunfleet]

You don't need to arrange a boycott. Dutch customs are busy organising it!

 

[Marsupial]

Why not simply go somewhere else? the fine on my boat will pay for a bareboat charter in Greece for a fortnight - no contest is it - why take the risk?

As for taking fuel receipts - they dont care where you bought it - they wont allow you to USE it.

Happy days!

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
Do they also nail the Belgians?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not since 1830 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sailorman]

the cloggies r getting thier own back 4 the "Sole Bay" incident /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
who bailed them out in 45 then /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

plus the " War Graves" in Colijinsplatt are a disgrace, unkempt almost neglected ave age of the bomber crew about 23 yrs old /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[eidiohir]

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?I HAVE A BOAT IN BELGUIM AND I HAVE BEEN GOING BACKWARD AND FOREWARD IN AND OUT OF HOLLAND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS WITH NOTHING ELSE BUT RED IN THE TANKS AND NO ONE HAS EVEN ASKED ME WHAT KIND OF FUEL I HAVE.

 

[sailorman]

So Loud, ole Chep

the Cloggie Forumites are keeping thier heads down /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Marsupial]

Since November 2006 when the duty rules changed in the UK, the Dutch have applied their own interpretation to UK boaters - hence the problems.

 

[eidiohir]

If you where to call into a Belgian port first could you then go into Holland without any probs?

 

[Marsupial]

Only if you dont have red diesel in your tanks - assuming you are a UK registered boat. Why not go to Malta first, or New Zealand, the Dutch don't care.

UK BOATS USING RED DIESEL IN HOLLAND WILL BE FINED

end of story

 

[eidiohir]

Re: marsupial

I think that the problem may be that UK boaters are too law abiding.Take a tip from the rest of the world and stand up for yourselves.

 

[Bergman]

The situation as I understand it:

The EU Commission have washed their hands of the issue, putting it down to national government to obey EU law (whatever that might be)

The fact that the Dutch action would appear to breach EU law seems to be of no consequence.

The Dutch Embassy would appear to have a variety of views based around the principle that red diesel has been illegal in Holland for years and years and years only they never mentioned it to anyone.

The Dutch customs will fine you if you have red diesel in your tank.

Or

They might not fine you if you have a receipt from the UK vendor for the fuel and can account for the fuel used.

Or

You must stop on entry to Dutch waters and "declare" that you have red diesel in your tanks (not clear to whom)

Or

The Dutch Customs will fine you if there is any trace of any red ever having been in your tanks.

You may or may not get a receipt.

There is no reason why you cannot be fined on multiple occasions

Objecting to the fine may or may not result in your boat being seized.

One thing is absolutely certain beyond any shadow of doubt.

Whatever the Dutch customs choose to do, the British government will do absolutely nothing whatsoever to help you. You are totally on your own.

Still want to go?

I don't - I called my trip off earlier this week.

 

[EdWingfield]

Cancel the hol, a bit drastic that old boy.

We seem to be working ourselves into a state over what? Do we have knowledge of yotties being fined? We do have a forumite who says he's never been asked about fuel. We also know that our Dutch neighbours are reasonable and friendly people.

I suspect their purpose is to deter Dutch yotties evading tax by filling up abroad - not to harm tourism.

It's not a fuel fine we should be worried about it's the damned weather! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[rickp]

[ QUOTE ]
Do we have knowledge of yotties being fined?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

Rick

 

[heerenleed]

I just called the Customs Office

Having read all your posts I got the feeling that this story is becoming more and more strange. So I did the obviouos and called Vlissingen customs. The gentleman told me that they received the fist information about this issue from the newspapers, as usual, but soon concluded there was a little bit more to this than the simple "No red diesel allowed in" story. So do come and feel welcome, but also do bring the last fuel receipt, showing that the red diesel you have in your tank was purchased on a totally legal basis. My experience with Dutch customs is, that they are all very polite and no sain custom officer would fine you for this. As long as there are legal red diesel sources, this will probably stay this way.

I explained to the man that I still have a lot of legal Belgian red diesel in my tank, and the officer told me that that is no problem on my (Dutch registered) yacht as long as I have proof of the purchase being legal.

It seems that the whole story has been blown up into someting quite rediculous.
Have a safe crossing all of you and welcome to the Netherlands...

 

[rogerthebodger]

Re: I just called the Customs Office

Can you get this in writing from the Head office of your customs and then have it published in PBO etc.

This can then be presented if any Dutch customs officer tries to fine any one and could also be the basis for reclaiming the fine already imposed.

This is what I do with my daily dealings with customs in South Africa and I have found it works.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Re: I just called the Customs Office

I agree - we spent a month in Holland this summer and were boarded twice by customs. They were friendly and fair, and overloked a couple of errors in our ships paperwork. I have no doubt they would be as understanding to any British yacht crew with red diesel and a recipt for it's purchase. They are the Dutch after all, not the facist French customs.