Utilities

Many utilities companies in the Netherlands offer integrated services, providing both gas and electricity supplies. For a listing of energy suppliers in your area, you can contact your local municipality (Gemeentehuis - this number can be found in all telephone listings and Yellow Pages). Whilst not totally de-regulated, the utilities market in the Netherlands does provide the customer with a choice of supplier.

What surprises many newcomers to the Netherlands is the newly formed "Green" energy alternative "Ecostroom". Drawing your energy needs from totally renewable sources. This does cost more than normal energy supplies, but many are switching to this new form of environmentally sensitive energy supply.

Electricity

220 volts AC is the current in The Netherlands. Therefore, most North American appliances will require a transformer and adaptor.

Water

Unlike in many other countries, your drinking and waste water are not integrated. Although the costs generally are. To find out the address of your local water supplier, please contact the municipality (Gemeentehuis).