Bad news, as, yet again, municipal charges are going up by a considerable amount. In fact, this is the biggest increase in municipal charges since 2007, according to Corine Hoeben from research institution COELO (Centre for Research on Local Government Economics).

Paying hand over fist

According to research by COELO, which looked at 40 of the largest municipalities, those owning or renting a home are going to be paying a lot more in municipal charges this year, especially when it comes to waste collection levies. This year, the average tenant will be paying five percent more in municipal charges than they did last year, and the average homeowner will pay four percent more.

This increase is a little more than in 2019 – when municipal charges experienced their biggest increase in more than 10 years. In 2020, the average tenant will pay 363 euros and the average homeowner will pay 734 in municipal charges. The research focused on households with multiple people.

The municipal charge going up the most this year is waste collection tax. Municipalities are charging almost six percent more for the collection and processing of waste, as last year the Dutch government significantly increased this tax. Many municipalities paid for the extra costs with their reserves last year. Now, the bill is being passed on to households.

Where you live makes a difference

Where you live will make a big difference this year when it comes to your bill for waste collection tax. Looking at the figures, Apeldoorn really jumps out, with a 38 percent increase on waste collection tax.

If you live in Apeldoorn in a multiple person household, you can expect to pay 355,12 euros this year. In Amsterdam, you’re looking at 368 euros for this tax for a multiple person household. But it’s Haarlem that really takes this biscuit, with residents paying 392,40 euros to take their trash out.

It’s not all bad, as waste collection tax has gone down by four percent in Arnhem The municipality switched to a different system in July, where you pay for every time you throw a bin bag out. In Arnhem, residents living in a multiple person household can expect to pay only 235,14 euros.

Property tax also on the up

As if that wasn’t bad enough news, property tax (ozb) is also on the up – sorry homeowners… For the second year in a row, property tax is increasing by more than four percent. Hoeben had actually expected a greater increase, as municipalities are paying increasingly higher costs for care and welfare.

Increasing property tax is an unpopular measure and Hoeben thinks they are holding out on increasing it even more in the hopes that the government frees up more money for care tasks. The municipality increasing its property tax the most this year is Groningen (+15%).