Court rules that Fastned is allowed to add shops and toilets to its stations

Fastned, the European fast charging company, won a case at the Court of The Hague regarding the issue of lease agreements for a shop and toilets at its stations. The court ruled that the State, being the land owner of all service areas along the Dutch motorways, may not refuse Fastned such facilities. With its refusal, the State has acted in violation of the European Services Directive, which protects the freedom to provide services. As a result of this ruling, it will become possible to offer electric drivers a shop and toilets at fast charging stations along the highway, just like petrol stations.

For several years, the Dutch State blocked the realisation of shops and toilets at Fastned's charging stations because it considers this to be contrary to the covenants it has agreed upon with petrol stations. Fastned disagrees and argues that charging stations, just like petrol stations, should be able to provide their customers with coffee and a sandwich. In its verdict of 23 January 2019 the Council of State, being the highest administrative court of the Netherlands, already ruled that the State should not have refused the required permits. The verdict of the Court of The Hague of 14 April states that the Government Real Estate Agency must now also provide Fastned with the required land lease agreements. By not doing so earlier, the State has acted in an unlawful manner towards Fastned, obliging the State to compensate Fastned for damages incurred.

Click on the link below to download the HR image of the Fastned render (station + shop).