In this guide
Your water bill in the Netherlands is set to go up slightly from 1 January 2027. The Dutch government wants to raise the tax on tap water (belasting op leidingwater, BoL) by €0.10 per cubic metre, according to the Rijksoverheid. It is part of the Tax Plan 2027, so it is still a proposal: the House of Representatives and the Senate vote on it in November and December.
You do not pay this tax separately. Your water company charges it on your water bill, per cubic metre (1,000 litres) you use.
| 2026 | 2027 (proposal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax per m³ (Rijksoverheid) | €0.437 | €0.437 + €0.10 |
| Tax per m³ incl. indexation (Ondernemersplein) | €0.55 |
Sources: Rijksoverheid and Ondernemersplein. Ondernemersplein lists €0.55 per m³ for 2027, an increase of €0.11 that includes indexation.
There is a second change for very large users. In 2026, every m³ above 50,000 m³ a year per connection is tax-free. From 2027 that maximum disappears (Rijksoverheid). A household uses around 100 m³, so this part does not affect you.
What does this mean for you?
Not much. The Rijksoverheid expects an average household that uses 90 to 110 m³ of water a year to pay about €9 to €11 more per year. A single person in an apartment uses roughly 50 to 100 m³ (see our utilities guide), so the increase is €5 to €10.
An example: a couple using 100 m³ a year pays about 100 × €0.10 = €10 extra in tax, or €11 if you use the Ondernemersplein figure of €0.11.
There is nothing you can do to avoid the tax other than using less water. If you want to lower your fixed costs before 1 January, your energy contract is a cost you can actually change.
What can you do now?
- Look at your last annual water bill (jaarafrekening) to see how many m³ you use. That tells you what the increase means for you.
- Read our guide to Dutch utility bills to see which costs come from the water company, the municipality and the water board.
- If your energy contract ends soon, compare offers with our energy switching guide.