Moving to a new apartment or a rented home can cause you a lot of headaches. In this article, I will walk you through the process of moving into a Netherlands rental property, how to connect and pay for utilities, including gas, electricity, water, and garbage.
First, you need to check your rental agreement to understand what utilities are included in your monthly rental payments.
Many agreements will include some, if not all, of your utility payments, and it is important to know what utilities are covered and which utilities you need to find out for yourself. If you are buying a house in the Netherlands, you can contact a utility provider in your area.
Easy Nuts is the best service to connect to all utilities Netherlands online services as they offer a free service to English speakers in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, you will have many options to choose from because energy is a competitive and liberal market. Those who are environmentally conscious, will have ecological options from ecological sources such as wind, solar energy, water, and biomass.
Due to the variety of options on offer, you must compare prices, energy sources, and determine the type of contract you want.
Many websites offer price comparisons of energy providers in English. At ConsuWijzer, a government-backed consumer protection agency, it is recommended that you use various price comparison sites and make sure they offer a full selection of available providers.
Once you have decided, you can easily set up an account over the phone or online. You will need your passport or ID, proof of residency and a bank statement or proof of address in your municipality.
After selecting the energy supplier, you will be in contact with a network administrator who distributes the meters and an energy supplier.
To make sure you are only paying your share, write down your meter readings and send them to your energy supplier within the first fifteen days of your transfer. If you do not submit this information, your provider will make an estimate that may result in higher payments.
Dutch plugs use European standard voltage 220 V. Power adapters available in many stores will be needed for British, American and other foreign devices.
Water payments are divided into two parts: a utility charge and local taxes for sewerage, maintenance, and other services. Dutch tap water is safe to drink and one of the safest in the world. It is tested regularly and precautions and purification methods are used to ensure water quality.
Your city council manages waste disposal and recycling, and you will be charged a fee based on the size of your home. Your council will provide an annual calendar with collection dates.
The standard household garbage can is disposed of in bags from supermarkets, city-provided wheeled bins, or underground bins found on the sidewalk. Recyclables can be stored in underground containers found throughout your city.
Garbage that cannot be collected regularly can be left at the garbage stations or you can coordinate the collection with your municipality.
Gas and electricity require two separate payments: one to the supplier and the other based on network use. Payments are generally combined into a single invoice, but some providers will send two separate invoices. For water, you will pay monthly or quarterly depending on your provider.
