What is on the bill

Supply (levering): The price per kWh and per m³ gas from your supplier.
Energy tax (energiebelasting): Tax per kWh and m³, collected by your supplier.
Tax credit (vermindering energiebelasting): A fixed yearly discount per home connection that lowers the energy tax.
Network costs (netbeheerkosten): For the grid operator, the same whichever supplier you choose.
Fixed delivery costs: A monthly fee from the supplier.
VAT: 21% on top of everything.

Choosing a contract

	Fixed	Variable	Dynamic
Price	Locked for 1 to 5 years	Can change, usually monthly	Changes every hour (electricity) or day (gas)
Good for	Certainty	Flexibility, no exit fee	Using power when it is cheap: EV, heat pump, battery
Watch out for	Early termination fee	Price rises	Expensive evening peaks

1
Monthly advance (termijnbedrag)
An estimate of your usage, paid every month.
2
Annual settlement (jaarafrekening)
Once a year your real usage is compared: you get money back or pay extra.
3
Adjust the advance
If your usage changes, adjust the monthly amount in the supplier app to avoid a big bill.

Compare contracts when your fixed term ends; staying silent often means a more expensive variable rate.
Turn the thermostat down by one degree, and use radiator foil and draught strips.
Ask your municipality about energy-saving help; many offer free advice or small subsidies.
Low income? Ask about an exemption from municipal taxes and check allowances.

Thinking about solar panels? Read solar panels in the Netherlands first: net metering ends on 1 January 2027.

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

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