About energy in The Netherlands

We have summed up all you need to know about utilities, especially energy in The Netherlands.

Energy prices and the utility bill

In the Netherlands utility companies offer a wide range of energy tariffs. This website is specialised in energy price comparison. You can start your personal energy contract comparison now (see comparison widget on the left). Using energy comparison websites to apply for an energy supplier will give you more discount and savings. In 99% of the cases the energy contracts on our website are cheaper than applying directly at the energy supplier yourself.

Energy suppliers

Utility companies that supply energy to households and businesses are called energy suppliers. You can find information about Dutch energy suppliers here. For example phone number customer service, their energy deals and reviews. If you want more information about a particular supplier you can always give us a call so we can provide the information you need.

Compare energy suppliers

Energy sources

Would you like to find out how many sources of energy exist? Popular green energy sources are windenergy and solar power. But we also discuss fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal. Why do we need to choose for green energy? And is it more expensive? Please compare energy sources. Have you maybe found the energy source you want? Please give us a call to match your energy source to an energy contract using our free service number 0800 25 111 55 (or +31 20 261 0075 from abroad). 

Compare energy sources

Free energy market in The Netherlands

Everyone in The Netherlands is free to choose the energy supplier that best fits their needs. Regulatory authorities ensure fair practices and tariffs. In this movie we explain how easy it is to select a Dutch energy supplier of to switch to a new one. You will never be cut off from energy supply and through this website switching/applying is free of charge! More information about the energy market.

Before 2004 Dutch consumers were not able to choose their own energy supplier. The Dutch energy market was divided into regions. Every region had one fixed energy supplier. There was no free choice, it was a government controlled monopoly. Before 2004, only 4 energy suppliers existed: Essent, Eneco, Nuon and Delta. Each energy company supplied energy in their own regions:

  Essent: Drenthe, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Overijssel

  Eneco: Utrecht, Zuid-Holland

  Nuon: Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Noord-Holland

After 2004 the energy market was liberalized, which meant that the energy market was opened up for new entries. Some of the first new players in the market were Greenchoice, Nederlandse Energie Maatschappij and several others.

The benefits of a liberalized energy market

After the liberalization several new energy suppliers entered the energy market. They competed with each other and with the existing suppliers. These are the benefits of a liberalized energy market:

  More freedom of choice for the consumer

  Energy suppliers are motivated to attract and retain customers

  More attention to customer satisfaction and overall better energy prices

TIP: If you are not happy with your current energy supplier, you can switch to a another energy supplier using the free comparison and switching service of Energycomparison.nl.

The role of the Dutch government in the energy market

the Dutch government designated the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) as the energy regulator in the Netherlands. The ACM has the following tasks:

  Ensure that consumers gain real benefits from the free energy market. Some energy companies could become too big and too powerful.

  Ensuring that major energy suppliers do not become too powerful.

  The freedom of choice for the consumers is monitored.

The distribution network operators are fixed

Nowadays you can choose which energy supplier suits you best, but the distribution network operator (DNO) is fixed. The place you live determines your distribution network operator. The DBO is responsible for a part of the energy grid in the Netherlands. The DNO takes care of all the electricity and gas connections and the transportation of energy. Whenever a consumer switches to another energy supplier, the DNO will keep track of this. The cost for the transportation of energy is charged by your energy supplier, on behalf of the DNO.

A list of the distribution network operators per region in The Netherlands:

Drenthe: Enexis (in some places Rendo Netbeheer)

Flevoland: Liander (Noordoost polder: Enexis)

Friesland: gas: Enexis and electricity: Liander. In some places they do both.

Gelderland: Liander (some places Stedin)

Groningen: Enexis

Limburg: Enexis

Noord-Brabant: Enexis

Noord-Holland: Liander

Overijssel: Enexis

Utrecht: Stedin

Zeeland: Delta

Zuid-Holland: Stedin and Liander