Utilities in the Netherlands: the international's guide to gas, water, and electricity (2024)

Before you can enjoy your charming new Dutch home, there’s one essential task to tackle: setting up your utilities in the Netherlands.

Having a smooth flow of heat, electricity and water in your house is crucial, especially on those rainy days when you don’t want to leave the house.

But how do you get it all set up? Let’s talk about it.

Know what you’re looking for? Jump ahead to a section below! 🪂

  • 🙋‍♂️ What do I need to set up my utilities in the Netherlands?
  • 🔑 Buying vs renting: the difference when it comes to utilities
  • ⚡️ Electricity and gas in the Netherlands
  • 🚿 Water in the Netherlands
  • 💸 How can I pay my utility bills in the Netherlands?
  • ♻️ How can I switch utility providers in the Netherlands?
  • 📦 Moving and utilities in the Netherlands
  • 👉 Other services you may want to set up in the Netherlands

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🙋‍♂️ What do I need to set up my utilities in the Netherlands?

Before you can embark on your Dutch utilities journey, there are a number of important documents that you need to gather. These will be needed by your utility provider to set up your services.

You’ll need:

🪪 proof of identity (ID card or passport),
🔑 proof of living arrangement (rental contract), and
📄 a bank statement or proof of residency from your municipality (gemeente).

It’s also almost always necessary to have a Dutch bank account to set up your utilities in the Netherlands.

(Psst! Just arrived in the Netherlands? Check out the banks that let you open an account before you get a BSN (the crucial Burgerservicenummer)!

🔑 Buying vs renting: the difference when it comes to utilities

It’s important to know that whether you rent or own your home can have an impact on your utilities in the Netherlands.

I’m renting a property in the Netherlands

I’m buying a property in the Netherlands

⚡️ Electricity and gas in the Netherlands

Now that we got the basics out of the way, let’s move on to the first major utility you’ll need to set up in the Netherlands: electricity and gas.

Electricity and gas in the Netherlands are grouped together as “energy supply sources”. Most Dutch homes use electricity as their main source of power, but gas is an option in many homes, too.

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While gas-powered homes use electricity as well (for all things that need electricity), they use gas for things such as heating, stoves, and hot water. 🔌

How to connect electricity and gas to your Dutch home

You’ll be happy to hear that, in most cases, electricity and/or gas will already be hooked up to your Dutch home when you move in.

All you need to do (ideally before moving in) is choose an energy provider and transfer the services to your name. From then on, all you need to take care of is paying your bills. 😉

Good to know: If you don’t enter into a contract with a provider upon moving, you will be sent a letter by your municipality reminding you to do so. If you still fail to set up gas and electricity, your power will eventually be cut off.

After transferring the utilities to your name, your new provider will usually ask you to provide meter readings.

To make sure that you only pay for the energy that you actually use (and save money!), we recommend that you make note of these readings on your move-in day.

How to choose a Dutch electricity and gas provider

The Dutch energy market is privatised, meaning you have the freedom to select a gas and electricity provider that ticks all your boxes. ✅

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The most popular providers of gas and electricity in the Netherlands are:

When choosing the provider that’s right for you, there are a variety of factors you may want to take into account. Think of costs, customer service, sustainability, and contractual terms and commitments.

An easy way to get an overview of the best providers and their prices is by using a price comparison tool like Energievergelijk.nl, which is fully available in English.

Tip: Can’t be bothered to deal with price comparisons and Dutch contracts? There are other options! Companies like PartnerPete or Utility Direct can help you get the best deals for your Dutch utilities (and more!).

Costs of gas and electricity in the Netherlands

It’s important to know what you can expect to pay for gas and electricity in the Netherlands so that you can stick to your monthly budget (and have some spare change for a biertje or two).

Of course, how much you actually end up paying per month can vary on factors such as your usage, the insulation of your home, the type of contract you sign and, very significantly, the energy label of your home and your appliances.

Energy labels for Dutch homes and appliances

What the frikandel is an energy label? In simple terms: It’s an EU-wide categorisation of homes and devices that indicates how energy-efficient your house or appliance is.

The rating ranges from A (the most energy-efficient) to G (the least energy-efficient). For apartment buildings, the A-rating is extended to ​​A, A+, A++, A+++ and A++++, where more pluses indicate better energy efficiency.

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  • For houses, the energy label indicates how energy efficient a house is compared to similar houses.
  • For appliances, the energy label shows how economical the device is with energy but also provides information about the noise level, repairability, and water use, for example.

Appliances that have an energy label include: fridges and freezers, washing machines and washer-dryers, dishwashers, televisions, ovens, vacuum cleaners, lighting products, central heating boilers, and air conditioners.

Where your home and appliances lie on the scale can have a major impact on your energy bill.

READ MORE |How to calculate your utility costs in the Netherlands

How major? Well, a G-labelled home uses a whopping 50% more gas than an A-rated one. As for electricity, homes with a G label use, on average, 15% to 25% more than A-rated ones.

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Average gas usage and cost per month:

How much gas a household consumes mainly depends on the type of house you live in.

Type of homeCost per month
Apartment (Appartement)€120
Row house (Tussenwoning)€160
Corner house (Hoekhuis)€189
Semi-detached home (Tweegezinswoning)€215
Detached home (Vrijstandhuis)€287

The average overall price for gas comes out to about €164 per month.

Average electricity usage and cost per month:

The cost of electricity usage mainly comes down to the size of the household (the amount of people).

Household sizeCost per month
1 person€40.50
2 people€74.50
3 people€96.20
4 people€118.20
5 or more people€131.11

The overall average price for electricity comes out to about €72.20 per month.

How to save money on gas and electricity in the Netherlands

Now comes the fun part: saving money! There is a multitude of ways in which you can save some of those hard-earned euros on your energy bill.

READ MORE |Save money by outsmarting your Dutch utility contracts

Here are our three hottest tips that can help you channel your inner frugal Dutchie:

  • Switch energy providers regularly to always get the best variable rates
  • Run high-energy appliances like the dishwasher at night during reduced rates (yup, they’re a thing!)
  • Turn down your heating at night (sleeping in a cool room is better for you anyway. 😉)

TIP: Wanna know more ways to save money on energy costs in the Netherlands? Dat kan! Check out our article on 14 ways to save on energy costs in the Netherlands.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the decisions you need to make? That’s okay; life is stressful enough.

Luckily, there are a few sites out there (such as Utility Direct) that can help you organise the utilities that are right for you in English! No more stumbling around in a wilderness of Dutch words and package comparisons.

Renewable energy in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a very sustainable country, and they’re on a mission to reach net zero carbon (CO2) emissions by 2050.

To achieve that goal, the government supports households that switch to green energy by subsidising part of their cost.

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This means that, although green energy is more costly to produce, it often ends up costing the consumer as much (or less!) as non-renewable energy would.

READ MORE |Renewable energy in the Netherlands: everything you need to know

If having green energy is important to you, then you’ll want to pick a provider that offers green energy.

Let op! Not everything that’s “green” is actually sustainable — and some providers may be much greener than others. 🚫

It’s pretty easy for Dutch energy suppliers to call themselves green; so always make sure to double-check where your provider’s energy actually comes from.

If you want guaranteed green energy, it’s worth thinking about solar panels! ☀️

🚿 Water in the Netherlands

Getting water to your Dutch home is not nearly as complex as getting gas and electricity. Phew!

How to connect water to your Dutch home

Good news: Water is already connected to your home in the Netherlands when you move into it. There is nothing you need to do besides getting a water supply contract in your name.

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Water supply providers in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, your water supplier is not chosen by you. Instead, providers are decided by the region you live in — and there are 10 different ones for the entire country. 💦

To find out who your provider is, you can ask your landlord or insert your postcode into this handy tool.

If you live in any of these major Dutch cities, these are your water suppliers:

AmsterdamWaternet
Den Haag/LeidenDunea
RotterdamEvides
UtrechtVitens
EindhovenBrabant Water
MaastrichtWaterleiding Maatschappij Limburg
GroningenWaterbedrijf Groningen

Once you know who your provider is, you can visit their website to change the name on the contract and provide your Dutch bank details.

Cost of water in the Netherlands

Your total water cost consists of two elements:

  • the cost of your actual water usage (often called “tap water bill”, or drinkwater rekening in Dutch), and
  • your municipal taxes (gemeentelijke belastingen) for water services such as sewage and maintenance. 🚰
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For water usage, your bill will, of course, depend on the amount of water you use. Waternet estimates a price of:

  • €16.23 per month for a one-person household,
  • €22.45 per month for a two-person household,
  • €28.70 per month for a three-person household, and
  • €34.95 per month for a four-person household.

When it comes to water service taxes, you should budget around €260 for the year (2024) for your water bills if you live alone. If you live with one or more other people, then you can expect to pay around €445. This covers a water treatment charge and a water system charge.

READ MORE | Top 12 services for expats in the Netherlands to make your life easy

If you own the house you live in, you will need to pay an additional water system charge for buildings of about €65.

💸 How can I pay my utility bills in the Netherlands?

We’ve covered Dutch utilities, providers, and prices; now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of paying your bills. (Yep, turns out they’re pretty strict about that).

Usually, utility providers will offer you two standard options to pay your bills:

  • Automatische incasso (automatic direct debit), where your due amount gets taken straight out of your account every month, or
  • Manually transfer the amount you owe to your provider each month via internet banking.

Your tax bills for water will be sent to your home address once a year or once per quarter, depending on your municipality. You can typically choose to pay the amount in one go or split it up into multiple payments. 💵

♻️ How can I switch utility providers in the Netherlands?

As you know by now, the utility market in the Netherlands is privatised.

This means that, in theory, you can switch your gas and electricity contract as much as you like (within your contract, of course). Your water provider, on the other hand, will only change if you move to a different region.

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But why would you choose to switch energy providers? Well, because it can actually be quite profitable! Yup, one of the most efficient ways to save money on utility expenses is to choose your provider wisely and switch regularly.

READ MORE | To switch or not to switch: here’s how changing energy contracts can save you money

Another reason to consider a switch could be if you’re looking to make your home more sustainable or if you’re looking for a provider that’s more expat-friendly.

If you want to switch energy providers, the first thing on your to-do list should be to check whether your current contract actually allows you to switch. Since June 1, 2023, providers can fine you if you decide to switch providers before your contract ends.

However, if your plan has an indefinite term, you can switch anytime.

If you are looking to switch your utility provider, you’ll have to take these two easy steps:

  1. De-register from your old provider.
  2. Apply to the new provider by providing your new address and an estimate of your monthly or annual usage.

Oftentimes, you can also just contact your new chosen supplier, and they can help you make the change.

📦 Moving and utilities in the Netherlands

Moving house in the Netherlands? Exciting! Unfortunately, that means that you have to deal with setting up your utilities again. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as hard as the first time around. 😅

Transferring utilities to your new address

Moving is stressful enough — so you’ll be happy to hear that one way to make your move a little more manageable is by transferring your existing utility contracts to your new address.

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Since your energy contract is linked to your personal account with the supplier and not the property, transferring utilities to a new address is easy-breezy!

Cancelling your utility contracts

If you’re moving abroad or want to register with a new supplier in your new home, then it’s time to say goodbye to your utility contract.

Usually, you can easily de-register from your provider using their online customer portal. Alternatively, you can shoot them a quick e-mail saying you would like to put an end to your contract.

👉 Other services you may want to set up in the Netherlands

Phew! Well done, you’ve officially set up the most important Dutch utilities. 👏

Next up, it’s time to set up your mobile phone and internet. Luckily, we’ve got some guides to help you out:

  • Setting up internet in the Netherlands: the complete guide
  • Mobile phones and SIM cards in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide
  • The best SIM-only plans in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Need a bank in the Netherlands? How about the best streaming services? Or maybe some useful apps? 👇

  • How to open a bank account in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide
  • 12 of the best apps to have as an international in the Netherlands
  • Video streaming services in the Netherlands: the complete guide

Feeling ready to tackle your utilities in the Netherlands? Great, take a moment to pat yourself on the back — you’ve just ticked a major task off your to-do list!

Now, it’s time to enjoy all the wonders that Dutch life has to offer (and maybe some biertjes).

Do you have any more tips about utilities in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments!

Utilities in the Netherlands: the international's guide to gas, water, and electricity (2024)

FAQs

How do utilities work in the Netherlands? ›

Payment of utilities

It is customary in the Netherlands to pay your utilities in advance with monthly payments. After a year, the utility company will check your actual usage and payments you've already made. Depending on the total amount paid, you will get a refund or have to pay extra.

What is the Netherlands' main source of energy? ›

The Dutch electricity system mostly uses fossil fuels for power generation, mainly natural gas and coal, which accounts for approximately 31.25 gigawatts (GW). northern part of the country is rich in natural gas and as a result, most Dutch power plants run on gas.

How much are utilities in the Netherlands? ›

Different companies offer various plans suitable for your use. However, the average bill for your gas and electricity connection should be around 100 to 150 euros per month.

What is the energy system in the Netherlands? ›

Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, wind power, and solar power, produce 38% of the total electricity. One nuclear plant in the Netherlands, in Borssele, is responsible for around 3% of total generation. The majority of the electricity, more than 75%, is produced centrally by thermal and nuclear units.

How do gas and electricity work in the Netherlands? ›

Energy (electricity and gas) is transported by regional companies in the Netherlands. The high-voltage electricity network is managed by TenneT, and the national gas transmission network is managed by N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie.

How does the Netherlands control water? ›

River dikes prevent flooding from water flowing into the country by the major rivers Rhine and Meuse, while a complicated system of drainage ditches, canals, and pumping stations (historically: windmills) keep the low-lying parts dry for habitation and agriculture.

What does the Netherlands use natural gas for? ›

Electricity generation from gas in The Netherlands

In addition to power generation, natural gas is widely used for heating and cooking and is an important fuel for many industrial processes. The major non-energy use for natural gas is the production of key chemicals used to manufacture fertilizers and plastics.

Does Netherlands have natural gas? ›

The Netherlands has proven reserves equivalent to 18.1 times its annual consumption. This means it has about 18 years of gas left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).

Why is Netherlands gas so expensive? ›

The Netherlands heavily relies on imported fossil fuels, and fluctuations in international markets have a direct bearing on the energy prices within the country. Additionally, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions have added to the complexity of the situation.

How much is water in Netherlands? ›

In the Netherlands, water companies supply drinking water at an average rate of EUR 2.19 per m³ This rate (2023 prices) includes a usage tax (EUR 0.38 per m³) that applies exclusively to the first 300 m³ of water consumed annually.

How much is gas and electricity in the Netherlands? ›

The current energy prices are €0,34 per kWh for electricity and €1,38 per cubic meter (m3) for gas. These are the average energy prices based on the rates for new variable energy contracts from the 19 largest energy suppliers.

How much is water per month in the Netherlands? ›

How much will I be paying?
Yearly water useRates per yearRates per month
49 m3 (average use for 1 person)€ 163.17€ 13.60
97,5 m3 (average use for 2 people)€ 217.98€ 18.17
146,25 m3 (average use for 3 people)€ 273.06€ 22.76
195 m3 (average use for 4 people)€ 328.15€ 27.35

Does the Netherlands use wind energy? ›

Terawatt-time

The Netherlands produces 21.36 TWh from wind energy, which accounts for 18.1% of the country's electricity consumption.

How much electricity does the Netherlands produce? ›

A total of 120 billion kWh of electricity was produced in 2023, 1 percent more than in the previous year. The amount generated from fossil fuels was 58 billion kWh, down 12 percent from the previous year.

Does the Netherlands import electricity? ›

Electricity imports in 2022 decreased by 11 percent to 19 billion kWh, while exports increased by 11 percent to 23 billion kWh. This means the Netherlands was a net exporter again, contrary to the previous year when there was a small positive import balance.

Are utilities included in rent Netherlands? ›

UTILITIES

If you rent an unfurnished apartment, you usually have to take care of the utilities yourself. If utilities are taken care of by your landlord, you will pay a fixed amount for all utilities based on average household consumption. At the end of the year, you will then receive a so-called statement.

How to set up utilities in the Netherlands? ›

Setting up utilities in the Netherlands: The Basics
  1. Proof of identity (ID card or Passport)
  2. Proof of occupancy (rental contract or house deed)
  3. Dutch bank account to set up your payment method.

How to pay bills in the Netherlands? ›

For bills that you have to pay on a regular basis, such as your monthly rent, you can go to the bank and fill in a form known as a 'machtiging': 'Machtiging' translates as 'authorization' in English. It gives the bank permission to transfer a certain amount of money from your account each month, on a specific day.

Is electricity expensive in the Netherlands? ›

The current energy prices are €0,34 per kWh for electricity and €1,38 per cubic meter (m3) for gas. These are the average energy prices based on the rates for new variable energy contracts from the 19 largest energy suppliers.

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