Who do I talk to about getting green energy? How do I get my water turned on? Here's a guide.

When requesting service from utilities you will need a passport or ID card to prove your identity, your rental contract, bank statement or proof of residence from the Gemeentelijke basisadministratie persoonsgegevens (GBA). It can take three to five working days for connections, although in many cases water and/or energy will already be on and you will simply have to register it in your name.

Water

The country is divided into different geographic areas served by 27 water companies under local government control. Your landlord or estate agent will be able to provide you with the details of the company serving your area, or  contact the Association of Water Boards (listed below). You will be charged on actual usage based on a meter, with costs varying from area to area and initial estimates are based on the number of people in your household. Furthermore, you will be taxed for water and pollution. This tax will sent to you automatically when you register with your municipal registration office.

Main water suppliers

Amsterdam
0900-9394 (local tariff rates) (menu option 2 for operator)

Hilversum
0800 2025 (free phone, menu option 6 for operator)

Leiden
070 357 7500

Rotterdam
010 293 5000

The Hague
070 357 7500

Utrecht
030 248 7211

Association of Water Boards: Unie van Waterschappen, 070 351 9751, www.waterschappen.nl (English section with list of all water companies under the link ‘Contact.)

Electricity and gas

The current in the Netherlands is 220 volts AC and plugs have two rather than three pins. Most appliances from North America and outside of Europe will not work without a transformer and/or an adaptor. For appliances from EU countries, a simple adaptor should work.

The energy market has been liberalised so you are no longer bound to using one of the main companies (Essent, NUON and Eneco are the companies that supply 90 percent of the energy in the Netherlands). Another result of the liberalisation of the market has meant that there are many small, local companies basing their energy on alternative sources like wind, water and biomass (the burning of organic matter).

Almost all companies now provide a range of services, including a “green” option. While the energy that supplies your home is the same regardless, when you opt for green it means the company buys in that amount of energy provided by green producers, which is then added to the general pool. Main energy suppliers are listed below, or look under ‘energiebedrijven’ in the phone book for small, local companies.

Main energy suppliers

Dong Energy Sales BV
073 616 02 00
www.dongenergy.nl/ (Dutch)

Essent Groene Stroom
0800 0330 (free phone)
(option 3, then 1 for operator )
www.essent.nl/essent/consument/index.html (Dutch)

Eneco (includes Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht)
0900 0201 (EUR 0.10 p/m)
(menu option 1, then 3 for operator)
www.eneco.nl (Dutch)

Greenchoice (includes Rotterdam)
010 478 2326
www.greenchoice.nl (Dutch)

NUON (includes Amsterdam)
0900 0808 (EUR 0.10 p/m)
(option 1, then 3)
www.nuon.nl (Dutch)

ONS (includes Scheidam/Rotterdam)
010 262 1000
(option 4, or stay on the line)
www.onsgroep.nl (Dutch)

OXXIO (includes Hilversum/Het Gooi)
0800 1401 (free phone)
(menu option 1)
www.oxxio.nl (Dutch)

Updated June 2007

Compiled by Mindy Ran.

[Copyright Expatica 2006]

Subject: Dutch utilities