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Another bill will go up next year. The waterschapsbelasting is a Dutch tax that many internationals may not know about, but everyone here pays it. It is expected to rise again in 2027, adding tens of euros to most households’ yearly costs.
What is this tax, and who pays it
Much of the Netherlands sits below sea level and is managed by 21 regional water authorities, known as waterschappen or hoogheemraadschappen. These are a separate, centuries-old layer of government with their own elected boards and their own tax. They are responsible for keeping the country dry and the water clean by maintaining dikes, pumping stations and sluices, treating wastewater, and managing water levels. Almost everyone pays into this system, whether you own or rent, through the waterschapsbelasting, which appears on the same annual bill as municipal taxes.
How much more in 2027
The Unie van Waterschappen, which represents the water authorities, says the tax will go up by about 7% on average next year for both homeowners and renters. For a household in an owner-occupied home with a WOZ value (the official assessed property value used for tax) of 370,000 euros, this means about 35 euros more, bringing the typical bill to around 535 euros a year. Someone living alone in a rented home would pay about 15 euros more. For agricultural businesses and nature managers, the average increase is a bit higher at about 7.5%, while for other businesses it is a bit lower.
For owner-occupiers, part of the tax depends on the WOZ value, so the exact increase varies by home. The umbrella group gave examples: about 33 euros more for a 300,000-euro home and about 37 euros more for a 450,000-euro home.
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Why it keeps going up
For years, the water tax rose by only a few euros at a time. But since 2023, it has increased by tens of euros each year. The water authorities give several reasons for this. Energy costs have gone up sharply, and they also have to adapt to climate change. Almost all of them had extra costs last summer to deal with the long drought. Material and construction prices have also risen, and a major bill is coming to replace and modernise old infrastructure like pumping stations, weirs, wastewater treatment plants, and dikes. The authorities say these increases are the cost of “necessary investments” in safety and clean water.
The amount of money involved is significant. The 21 water authorities collected more than 4.6 billion euros in taxes this year, up from 3.1 billion in 2021.
It varies a lot by region, and it is not final yet
These are national averages, but the actual amount depends a lot on where you live. Each water authority sets its own rates, and they can differ widely. For example, Waterschap Limburg has announced an average rise of about 8.4%, with nearly 362 million euros planned for investment in 2027. In the Amsterdam region, the Amstel, Gooi en Vecht authority is even proposing annual increases of 4% above inflation every year until 2050 to fund its long-term plans. This would roughly double the bill over time.
One last note: the national figure is still just an estimate. The water authority boards are discussing and finalising their 2027 rates right now, so the averages mentioned are only an expectation, not a final number. If you want to know your likely bill, you will get the figure from your local water authority, along with your municipal taxes, early next year.
Typo: dykes --> dikes.