Energy poverty increases across the Netherlands, hitting single-parent families hardest

Energy poverty is affecting an increasing number of children in the Netherlands, according to TNO researchers. The total rose from 262,000 in 2023 to an estimated 293,000 last year, meaning about 1 out of every 12 children is now growing up in households facing energy-related hardship.

TNO notes that energy poverty in children goes far beyond financial strain, contributing to health problems, setbacks in school, and a greater likelihood of remaining socioeconomically vulnerable throughout life.

A cold, humid, and inadequately insulated home places children at particular risk. Many face asthma, insufficient nutrition, psychological difficulties, and declining results at school. TNO researchers Thomas Schuurman Hess and Arianne van der Wal warn that when a child spends 5 years in unhealthy housing, the effects can influence their entire future.

Families facing energy poverty spend about 6.6 percent of their income on energy, nearly twice the 3.7 percent spent by other households. As a result, they have fewer resources available for essentials such as nutritious meals, sports activities, clothing, and materials for school.

TNO reports that energy-poor children frequently come from single-parent homes where the mother is the primary earner, and that they are disproportionately represented in families with a migration background.

When it comes to their living conditions, a large share of these households reside in social rental properties that have poor energy efficiency. Energy poverty among children is particularly prevalent in several border provinces, including Groningen and Limburg, as well as in certain areas within the Randstad.

On average, households facing energy poverty have a disposable income of about 28,388 euros, a sharp contrast with the roughly 42,491 euros available to families not dealing with energy-related hardship.