Leaving the Netherlands: cancelling your energy
When you leave, you cancel your own energy contract and settle a final bill. Here is how to do it so you are not billed after you have gone.
Cancel your energy contract for your move-out date and give a final meter reading that day. You then receive a final settlement (eindafrekening), usually within about six weeks, which refunds or charges the difference against your monthly advances. On a variable or dynamic contract you can normally cancel with about 30 days' notice at no cost; leaving a fixed contract early can carry a capped early-termination fee. Keep your bank account open until the final bill is settled.
How to cancel when you leave
Tell your supplier your move-out date and cancel from then. If you are handing the home to a new occupant or landlord, your supply does not stop physically; you simply end your contract and stop being billed for that address. Give your final meter readings (meterstanden) on the day you leave, and keep a photo, so your final bill is based on real usage and not an estimate.
You cancel with your own supplier; there is no new supplier to arrange it for you as there is when you switch. Do this a few weeks ahead if you can, so the timing lines up with your handover.
Your final bill (eindafrekening)
After you leave, your supplier produces a final settlement that compares your real usage to the monthly advances (termijnbedrag) you paid. If you paid too much in advance you get money back; if too little, you owe the difference. This usually arrives within about six weeks. Make sure the supplier has a bank account and a forwarding or foreign address so any refund can reach you.
Because the refund can come after you have left, do not close your Dutch bank account until the final settlement is done, or arrange an account that can still receive it.
Fixed contract: is there a fee?
If you are on a variable or dynamic contract, you can usually cancel with about 30 days' notice at no cost. If you are on a fixed-term contract and leave before it ends, your supplier may charge an early-termination fee (opzegvergoeding), which is capped by consumer rules and depends on how much time is left. Moving abroad does not automatically waive it, so check your contract and weigh the fee against the remaining term.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel my energy contract when leaving the Netherlands?
Tell your supplier your move-out date, cancel from then, and give final meter readings on the day you leave. You cancel with your own supplier. On a variable or dynamic contract this is usually free with about 30 days' notice; a fixed contract can carry a capped early-termination fee.
When do I get my final energy bill?
The final settlement (eindafrekening) usually arrives within about six weeks after you leave. It compares your real usage to the monthly advances you paid and refunds or charges the difference. Make sure the supplier can still reach you and your bank account for any refund.
Do I pay a fee to cancel energy early when I move abroad?
Only if you leave a fixed-term contract before it ends; then there may be a capped early-termination fee (opzegvergoeding). Variable and dynamic contracts can usually be ended with about 30 days' notice at no cost. Moving abroad does not automatically waive a fixed-contract fee.
What meter readings do I need when I leave?
Take your electricity and gas meter readings on your move-out day and keep a photo. Giving these final readings ensures your closing bill is based on real usage rather than an estimate.