Drinking water in the Netherlands is billed per cubic meter (m³ = 1,000 liters). The price consists of the costs charged by the drinking water companies as well as taxes and levies.

As of 2025, households pay on average:

• approximately €2.61 per m³ of drinking water (including all taxes and levies)

This is around 22 cents more than in 2024. The increase is mainly due to inflation and rising investments in water treatment, pipeline networks and supply security.

For an average household with around 100 m³ annual consumption, this results in a drinking water bill of approximately €261 per year.

Taxes and Levies

Around 30% of the drinking water price consists of taxes and levies, including:

• VAT

• Tap water tax (Belasting op leidingwater, BOL)

• Provincial groundwater levy (depending on the province)

Outlook

For 2026, a further price increase of around 4% is expected. This is driven by necessary investments in infrastructure, water quality, climate adaptation and supply security.

Note

Drinking water prices vary by region and water company, as factors such as the source of the water (groundwater or surface water) and the required treatment process play a role.

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Sources:

[1] Drinkwaterplatform.nl (15/12/2025). The drinking water price: 5 questions. Retrieved February 2026 from https://www.drinkwaterplatform.nl/wet-en-regelgeving/wetten-en-regels/de-drinkwaterprijs-5-vragen
[2] Vewin (2025). Drinking water tariff overview.