A household using 100 m³ of drinking water a year pays EUR 2.71 per m³ to PWN in 2026, before taxes. The same household supplied by Vitens pays EUR 1.75. The national weighted average is EUR 2.05 per m³, up 3.9% on 2025, according to figures published by Vewin, the association of the ten Dutch drinking water companies, in September 2026.
Ten companies, ten prices
Each company sets its own standing charge and a single volumetric rate. No economic regulator sets prices: the inspectorate ILT supervises the companies and the competition authority ACM advises it. In July 2026 ACM found that all ten had set their 2026 tariffs in line with the rules. The changes for 2026 ranged from a 10.9% rise at Dunea to a 5.4% cut at Waternet in Amsterdam.
Higher in cash, flat in real terms
The average price across all users, including the tap water tax and VAT, rose from EUR 1.53 per m³ in 2010 to EUR 2.37 in 2025. Adjusted to 2025 prices, the 2010 figure was EUR 2.23, so in real terms the price rose by about 6% over 15 years. Taxes accounted for EUR 0.52 of each cubic metre in 2025.
Investment is driving the next rise
The companies invested EUR 1,171 million in 2025, up from EUR 899 million in 2024, and produced 1,191 million m³ of drinking water. Their return is capped by a standard cost of capital of 4.32% for 2025–2027. In June 2026 ACM called the financial supervision of the companies highly fragmented and asked for a single independent regulator.
Who runs Dutch water, where it comes from, which projects are under way and what the 2026 drought exposed are covered in the full profile. The full report, Netherlands Country Intelligence Profile, is available for USD 99. For a free overview, see Netherlands Country Snapshot.