Dutch residents can expect a significant increase in how much they will spend on their water bills for 2025. Many water companies in the Netherlands including Vitens, the largest local water board (waterschap) in the country, have announced plans to implement price increases for water in different regions. 

Vitens raising water rates in 2025

As the local water supplier for the provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, Flevoland and Friesland, Vitens' water price hike will impact around 6 million households in the Dutch cities it serves. From January 1, 2025, houses that have water supplied by Vitens will see the price per cubic metre (1.000 litres) increase by 0,21 euros from 1,04 to 1,25 euros. 

This works out to around 23 euros more per year for a two-person household and 43 euros extra annually for a four-person household. The higher rates will go towards investments that will ensure that the company can continue to provide clean drinking water. “This includes replacing and installing (new) pipes, looking for new locations to pump up groundwater and building new production locations where we purify groundwater and surface water into fresh and clean drinking water,” said chairman of Vitens, Tjeerd Roozendal in a statement.

Local water boards in the Netherlands charge more for water

As each regional water authority decides its own water price and tax rates for the region, the price of water varies depending on where in the Netherlands you live. Many other water companies have also announced price hikes for 2025.

For example, PWN - which is responsible for water management in Noord-Holland and includes cities such as Haarlem, Hoorn and Alkmaar - will charge 1,92 euros per cubic metre of water supplied. This is an estimated 25 euro increase per year. 

Waternet (Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Board), which spans across a large part of Utrecht, Noord-Holland and a part of Zuid-Holland and includes areas such as Amsterdam, Hilversum and Utrecht, also plans to raise water prices to 1,22 euros per cubic meter. This will cost a single person who lives in a rental home approximately 33 euros extra per year, and a family with two children living in a house will spend 47 euros more annually on their water bill. 

Water authorities give several reasons for the increase in water prices, ranging from inflation to an increase in construction costs caused by increased wages, among other factors. Many of the companies also plan to update their infrastructure to modern standards. Climate change and water conservation efforts also have an impact on costs.