Netherlands reports persistent household energy poverty despite new emergency fund

In 2025, about 4.2% of households on Goeree-Overflakkee—roughly 265 families—required an extra €638 per year to escape energy poverty, matching the share from the previous year. Nationwide, some 500,000 Dutch households, or about 6% of the population, face similar hardship, with average shortfalls rising from €577 in 2024 to €624 in 2025.

The Dutch cabinet has re‑opened the Temporary Emergency Fund for Energy, allocating €193 million for at least four months of applications. The fund aims to support low‑income families struggling with high utility bills, especially as gas prices climb and many homes remain poorly insulated. In Goeree-Overflakkee, the fund helped 265 households, while 220 residents received insulation subsidies and about 400 received home‑visits from the local Energy Bank. In Zoetermeer, more than 3,000 households now report difficulty paying their energy bills, prompting local authorities and housing corporations to intensify insulation and savings programmes ahead of the winter season.