Environment/sustainability

The Netherlands has entered an official water‑shortage phase as river levels drop and ditches dry out. Authorities are preparing new measures, including adjusting river weirs and pumps, while urging residents to use drinking water consciously.

Dutch households threw away slightly less waste in 2025, mainly due to a drop in organic waste. Dry weather reduced garden growth, leading to fewer clippings and prunings. Residual waste levels stayed nearly the same, and waste separation rates have remained stable at around 60 percent.

A prolonged period of dry weather has prompted Water Board Rivierenland to restrict water use in part of Gelderland. Similar measures are already in place elsewhere in the southern Netherlands as authorities try to protect dwindling water supplies.

The Netherlands has entered its third regional heatwave of the summer after Gilze‑Rijen reached 25.4 degrees on Monday. Several other locations may also qualify if temperatures rise to 30 degrees later today. The previous heatwave ended only a few weeks ago.

Three environmental organisations have accused the province of North Brabant of using faulty data to protect a local biomass power plant. The groups claim officials are artificially inflating current emission figures to make future targets look like a major reduction. Legal action may follow if the province goes ahead with the controversial permit.

Global oil demand showed signs of recovery in June as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—following a fragile, short-lived peace deal between the US and Iran—helped boost global supply by 4.1 million barrels per day to 98.8 million. The rebound included a record-breaking production high of 4.1 million barrels per day from the United Arab Emirates, though overall Gulf exports remain well below pre-war levels. However, the IEA warns that the market outlook has been clouded once again after US President Donald Trump declared the agreement over this week following renewed hostilities in the region.

The Dutch government is allocating €450 million from its Climate Fund to construct an underground hydrogen storage facility in Zuidwending, Groningen, adapting four existing salt caverns to hold the gas. Crucial for storing surplus wind and solar energy, the project leverages the area's existing natural gas infrastructure and expertise to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. By stepping in with state funding, the Cabinet is absorbing key financial risks—such as volatile "pillow gas" pricing, low initial capacity utilisation, and permitting delays—that have currently kept private investors at bay.

More than 3,500 people died during last week’s extreme heat in the Netherlands, according to RIVM. Mortality was around 480 deaths higher than expected, mainly among people aged 80 and older, with the largest impact in the east and south of the country.