Energy in the Netherlands: guides in English

Arranging gas and electricity in the Netherlands works differently from most other countries. You choose your own supplier, but not the company that owns the cables to your door. Your bill is assembled from four separate charges, only two of which you can influence. And on 1 January 2027 the rules for households with solar panels change entirely.

These guides explain how the Dutch energy market works, written for people who did not grow up with it. Dutch terms are explained on first use, and every figure carries its source and reference date.

If you already know what you need, you can compare energy providers in the Netherlands straight away and see what the offers for your own address actually cost.

Getting started

• Arranging gas and electricity when you move into a Dutch home – what to check, when to sign, and the bank account hurdle newcomers hit.
• Fixed, variable, dynamic or model contract – which contract suits how long you are staying.
• How much energy does a Dutch household use? – estimating your annual usage when you have no Dutch history.

Understanding your costs

• Your Dutch energy bill explained – every line on the jaarafrekening, and which parts you can actually change.
• Energy prices in the Netherlands – what electricity and gas actually cost per kWh and m³.
• Ending your energy contract – notice periods, termination fees, and what happens if you leave the country.

Solar panels and heating

• The end of net metering on 1 January 2027 – what replaces it and what it means for your contract.
• Solar feed-in costs – what suppliers charge for the electricity you feed back.
• District heating (stadsverwarming) – why you cannot choose your heat supplier, and what protects you instead.

Energievergelijker.nl is an independent Dutch energy comparison website, founded in 2004 during the liberalisation of the Dutch energy market.