Arjen Lubach’s Satirical Response to Fuel Tourism and Diplomatic Tensions

Dutch comedian Arjen Lubach has responded to a surge in “fuel tourism” – Dutch citizens driving to Belgium to take advantage of lower petrol prices – with a satirical video, following a recent diplomatic incident involving the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. The video, released by Lubach’s production company, playfully redirects criticism towards Belgium.

The Rise of Fuel Tourism

Recent reports indicate a growing trend of Dutch drivers crossing the border into Belgium to purchase cheaper petrol. Europeans are seeing varying levels of excise duty on petrol, with refueling in Belgium offering potential savings of up to 27 euros (AD.nl). This has led to crowded petrol stations in Belgian towns like Herentals, which has unexpectedly gained notoriety as a refueling destination (Heart of the Netherlands).

Lubach’s Satirical Response

Arjen Lubach, known for his satirical news commentary, addressed the situation in a recent video. The video serves as a response to perceived American interference in Dutch affairs, cleverly shifting the focus to Belgium (newsdirectory3.com). Lubach previously hosted the weekly news satire television show Zondag met Lubach (Sunday with Lubach) from 2014 to 2021 (Wikipedia) and currently produces content through LUBACH, a show airing on RTL 4 & Videoland (YouTube).

Arjen Lubach: A Profile

Born on October 22, 1979, in Groningen, Netherlands, Arjen Henrik Lubach is a Dutch comedian, author, music producer, and television presenter (Wikipedia). Following Zondag met Lubach, he hosted De Avondshow met Arjen Lubach (The Evening show with Arjen Lubach) from February 2022 to October 2024 before launching LUBACH in spring 2025.

Sunday with Lubach

Lubach’s show, Sunday with Lubach, features a satirical remix of the week’s news, presented by Lubach himself from behind a desk, in front of an audience, and in a suit (YouTube).