Energy savings Netherlands 2026: reduce heating bills for expats

Working from home: shift some days to the office in winter

If you work from home five days a week, shifting to three office days during November to February is the single most impactful free change you can make. Keeping your flat at working temperature when empty uses around 1.2 m³ of gas per day. Going to the office three days a week saves roughly €107 per winter season on gas alone, on top of any electricity savings.

Co-working spaces cost €5-15/day but the heating saving on your bill usually exceeds it in winter months. Talk to your employer - many Dutch companies already expect a mix of in-office and remote work.

Savings: €400-600/year. Time to implement: one conversation with your employer.

Seal your windows and draught gaps

Dutch older housing stock loses significant heat through window frame gaps. Self-adhesive foam draught strips cost €25-40 for 12 metres at Amazon.nl, Gamma, or Hornbach, and take 30 minutes to fit. They save €80-150/year. This is something Dutch people check in September before winter - most expats do not know to do it.

If your frames are in worse shape, a glazier can replace the rubber seals properly (€100-300 per window, €250-400/year saving, payback under three years). See our guide to renting in the Netherlands for what to check in a property before you sign a lease.

Savings: €80-400/year. Cost: €25-900. Payback: under one year.

Use curtains and blinds as insulation

In winter, keep curtains and blinds closed at night. Glass loses heat quickly once the sun sets, and a good curtain reduces that loss by 10-15%. During the day, open everything to capture free solar heat. This costs nothing if you already have curtains.

If you need to buy curtains, thermal-lined options at IKEA cost €30-80 per window. Honeycomb blinds (€40-100) are more effective per euro. Thermal curtain liners from Amazon.nl (€15-25 per window) are the cheapest upgrade if you already have curtains you like. Each uninsulated window costs roughly €5-10/month in lost heat in winter.

Savings: €100-200/year. Cost: €0 with existing curtains to €400 for new ones.

Smart thermostat

A smart thermostat learns your schedule and lowers heating automatically when you leave or go to bed. The reduction is 10-23% annually, which for a typical Dutch household works out to €200-450/year. They pay for themselves in one to two winters.

The Tado X is the most popular choice for expats: it works with most Dutch heating systems, has open-window detection (it stops heating automatically when you open a window), and the app works in English. Installed by Zoofy.nl it costs €245-345 all-in including the €95 labour. Google Nest (€174-308 installed) and Honeywell Home (€133-279) are the alternatives, though the Tado's open-window feature is particularly useful in Dutch weather.

Savings: €200-400/year. Cost: €133-350 installed. Payback: 1-2 years.

Attic insulation (homeowners only)

Around 25-30% of a Dutch home's heat is lost through the roof. Attic insulation costs €500-1,500 for an average Dutch house and saves €300-600/year, with payback typically in two to four years. The ISDE subsidy covers 20-30% of the cost (covered below in the subsidies section).

Renters: skip this one. Focus on TRVs and a smart thermostat instead. If you are still setting up a home, our expat furniture guide covers what to prioritise first.

Backup space heaters

If you have an older flat with unreliable central heating, a space heater is a backup, not a primary solution. An oil-filled radiator (€50-100) or ceramic heater (€40-80) uses 1,500W, which costs €0.51/hour at 2025 electricity rates. Running one 8 hours a day adds €120/month to your bill - more expensive than central heating for the same warmth. Use only for a single cold room while you sort the central heating.

Avoid halogen heaters (fire risk) and old 2,000W fan heaters. Infrared panel heaters (€80-150) are more efficient for spot heating a specific area like a desk or sofa.

How to switch in 30 minutes

Most expats do not realize that Dutch energy companies offer their best rates to new customers, not loyal ones. Switching every 12 to 24 months is standard practice and completely normal. There are no disruptions to your gas or electricity supply during a switch, no setup fees (those are illegal in the Netherlands), and the new provider handles your cancellation paperwork. The whole process takes 2 to 4 weeks from sign-up to completion.

1. 1.Check your current bill for your rate (€/m³ gas, €/kWh electricity), your contract end date, and any early termination fee. Note your EAN code and customer number.
2. 2.Compare on Independer.nl or Overstappen.nl using your annual consumption: 1,200 m³ gas and 2,800 kWh electricity for a standard Dutch household. Sort by Total Annual Cost, not unit price alone, as fixed fees vary.
3. 3.Filter for fixed 1 to 2 year contracts and check customer reviews on Consumentenbond.nl. Look for green energy options if that matters to you.
4. 4.Click Switch Now on the comparison site. They handle the paperwork with your old provider. Confirm the cancellation in writing to your old provider as a backup.

Sign-up bonuses: extra savings on top

Energy providers offer new-customer bonuses that are typically only visible through comparison sites, not on the provider's own website. In 2025 these range from €50-150 cashback for new customers to €25 supermarket gift cards or 3 months at a reduced rate. A €100 bonus on top of €480 in annual savings makes the effective cost of switching negative.

Watch out for early termination charges (€50-200 if you are still inside a fixed-term contract), setup fees (should be €0), and rate increases buried in the fine print that apply after the introductory period. Always check what the rate looks like in year 2 before signing.

Zero VAT on solar panels: an automatic 21% discount

Since January 2023, residential solar panel installation carries 0% VAT in the Netherlands. No application is needed. A system priced at €4,000 before VAT would have cost €4,840 under the standard 21% rate. The saving is automatic and appears at checkout. This applies to private homeowners only. Renters cannot benefit as they do not own the roof.

After the 0% VAT discount, a typical solar installation costs €4,000-6,000 and saves €400-600/year in electricity. Payback is 7 to 10 years, followed by a further 10 or more years of effectively free electricity. See our energy savings calculator for a personalised payback estimate.

Emergency energy fund for lower-income households

If your gross income is below 200% of the Dutch social minimum (up to €3,400/month for singles, €4,740/month for couples) and energy costs represent 8-10% or more of your monthly income, you may qualify for the Energietoeslag. This is a government fund covering around 100,000 households annually, providing €100-300 in assistance applied directly to your energy bill or transferred to your bank account.

Applications go via energietoeslag.minecnj.nl. You need a DigiD account with SMS verification and a recent energy bill. Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Estimated bills by home type (2025 rates)

Your actual bill can vary 30-50% from these benchmarks depending on building age (pre-1980 homes use 50% more), insulation quality, thermostat settings (17°C vs 21°C is a 25% difference), and whether you work from home. A terraced house renting household typically pays €107/month on average and €170/month in winter. Use the energy savings calculator on this page for a personalised estimate.

Using your smart meter (SLIMME METER)

Most Dutch homes have a smart meter (SLIMME METER) that automatically sends consumption data to your provider. Log into your provider's website, find the meter readings or consumption section, and you can view daily or hourly breakdowns and compare your usage against similar homes.

Check monthly as a habit. Unusual spikes, for example a January reading 50% higher than the previous January, often indicate a malfunctioning heater, a damaged seal around a window, or an appliance left on. Weekday versus weekend usage should be broadly similar in winter when heating runs continuously. Catching a problem early via your meter data can save hundreds before the annual reconciliation bill arrives.

Year 2: small investments with clear payback

In year 2, install a smart thermostat (€245-350, saves €250-400/year with an 8 to 14 month payback). Switch your energy provider again for the annual rate update (save another €300-500). Add thermal curtains or cellular shades to poorly insulated windows (save €100-200). If you own the property, consider attic insulation (€500-1,500 cost, saves €300-600/year).

Total savings potential year 2: €950-1,700

Year 3 and beyond: major investments for owners

If you own your home and plan to stay long-term, a hybrid heat pump (€5,000-10,000 with 30% ISDE subsidy, saves €400-600/year, payback 6-8 years) and solar panels (€3,000-6,000 after 0% VAT, saves €400-600/year, payback 7-10 years) complete the picture. After payback, solar provides roughly 10 more years of effectively free electricity.

Plateau annual savings vs. baseline: €1,000-1,500

Contacts and organizations for energy help

If you need advice or are struggling with bills, these organizations offer free guidance. Consumentenbond.nl is the main consumer association and provides free advice on contracts and complaints. Milieucentraal.nl offers energy-saving tips and calculator tools. RVO.nl is the government subsidies portal for ISDE and other programmes. ACM.nl is the energy market regulator where formal complaints can be filed.

For emergency energy bill assistance (Energietoeslag), go to energietoeslag.minecnj.nl. You will need a DigiD account and a recent energy bill. Budget is limited and application-based. See section 4 above for full eligibility criteria.