If you are moving to the Netherlands, one of the first things you’ll need to do is connect to various utilities. Think of gas, water, and electricity, but also mobile phones, television, and the Internet. But how much will you spend on average?
Gas and electric bills will likely be a fair share of utilities Netherlands monthly payments. You should expect to spend monthly, around a hundred to a hundred fifty Euros, depending on your usage.
Gas and electricity are billed as two separate fees where your provider bills you for the amount of energy they have provided you and the cost of using the provider’s network.
You may have received two separate bills for this. One is an energy company and the other is netbeheerder. If you receive a bill from the energy supplier, this bill covers the above two costs.
If you have paid your bills but electricity/ gas does not work, first check if your neighbors have the same problem or if the street lights are working. If it is a local problem, you can check www.gasenstroomstoringen.nl to see if a power outage has already been reported. Also, you can call 0800-9009 to report the problem.
In the Netherlands, you will have two-pin power plugs, as in most of Europe. If you are forced to buy a new adapter because of this, do not worry. Most electronics stores should be able to provide you with a suitable adapter.
The voltage in the Netherlands is 220 V (fifty Hz which is standard for Europe, but more than many other countries. Checking the compatibility of appliances would be smart, in any case.
In the Netherlands the water payment consists of two elements: one is the actual consumption of water and the second is a tax for sewage and maintenance facilities arranged by the municipality.
These costs are usually cheaper when calculated on the basis of a water meter. If that is your case, you can budget around hundred fifty Euros each year. Tap water in the Netherlands is one of the safest drinking water sources in the world.
Once a year your supplier will ask you to verify and submit meter readings, this is for both energy and water. You will be notified by email or receive a letter at your address. Based on these meter readings, your monthly expenses for the next year will be calculated.
There is also the possibility of a refund or additional costs for the previous year based on these meter readings, depending on whether you have used more or less of the period between previous readings.
Providers often offer several billing options. Choose to make monthly or quarterly payments. You can choose to allow automatic payments or bank transfers yourself. What you cannot choose is the provider; it is automatically connected to the area or city in which you are.
