Living/housing

The Netherlands may see its second official heatwave next week as temperatures climb toward 35°C. Weather services expect a very warm, dry period, with drought concerns continuing.

ACM has ruled that energy suppliers cannot raise fixed gas prices when new CO₂ and green‑gas rules take effect. Several companies have already removed clauses that would have allowed such increases.

The Netherlands has recorded its seventh very hot day of the year, matching the 2020 record. Temperatures passed 35°C in Limburg, highlighting how extreme heat days are becoming increasingly common due to climate warming.

Dutch municipalities are shifting waste collection to early morning hours due to upcoming extreme heat. Garbage trucks will start as early as 06:00, and recycling centers will close around noon to protect workers from high temperatures.

Fires are breaking out in Dutch meter cupboards more often, and experts point to one cause: heat pumps, EV chargers and solar panels pulling far more power than older fuse boxes were ever built to handle.

Despite investing heavily in expanding the electricity grid, Enexis reports that waiting lists for new connections continue to rise. Recent regulatory changes mean households, small businesses, and charging stations are no longer guaranteed capacity, leading to a surge in applications and growing uncertainty across the regions Enexis serves.

The Netherlands saw exceptionally little rainfall in July 2026, averaging just 12 millimeters nationwide, making it the second driest July since weather measurements began in 1906. Sunshine hours were unusually high, temperatures consistently warm, and only a few regions saw anything close to normal precipitation.

Eindhoven has launched a new digital portal allowing housing project developers to apply for priority access to the electricity grid. With national regulations now enabling earlier submissions, the municipality will establish a formal ranking list to determine which housing and education projects receive precedence when scarce grid capacity becomes available.