Netherlands collects €24 billion in environment taxes

The Dutch government collected a total of 23.9 billion euros in environmental taxes and charges over 2014. Most of that money is related to the possession and use of cars and motorcycles. This is according to figures released by statistics Netherlands on Tuesday. Excise duties on fuels amounted to 7.9 billion euros. Along with the car tax - 5.43 billion euros - and purchase tax BPM - 1.12 billion euros - car related environmental taxes amounted to 14.45 billion euros last year. Another important income was from energy tax on natural gas and electricity - 4.4 billion euros. According to Statistics Netherlands, the share of environmental taxes and charges in total tax revenues has been relatively constant over the past 20 years, fluctuating between 23 and 24 billion euros a year. On balance households paid most of the environmental taxes and charges. Private households paid 66 cents of every euro the government collected. The remaining 34 cents was paid by businesses. Compared to other EU countries, the environmental taxes and charges are relatively high in the Netherlands. Environmental taxes made up 3.31 percent of the national income in 2013. The EU average is 2.5 percent. The Netherlands is fifth on the list compared to other EU countries, with Denmark, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia being the only country whose environmental taxes make up more of the national income.