Dutch gas reserves drop to 5.8% filled; Lowest level in a decade

The Dutch gas reserves have shrunk to 5.8% - the lowest filling level in ten years. This is evident from the National Energy Dashboard by gas grid operator Gasunie, which has been tracking storage levels since 2016.

The gas is stored in underground reserves in Norg, Grijsperk, Alkmaar, Bergermeer, and Zuidwending. The reserves have decreased due to gas usage for heating during the winter and must be replenished in the spring.

The largest gas reserve, in Norg in Drenthe, is currently virtually empty. The reserves in Alkmaar and Grijsperk are filled to less than 1 percent.

“Although the filling level of the gas storage facilities is extremely low, winter is virtually over, and the filling season is approaching. We are monitoring gas flows closely. At the moment, we see that the supply of gas to the Nehtelrands is stable,” said a spokesperson for Gasunie.

The previous lowest level was on March 30, 2018. At that time, underground reserves were filled to 6.19 percent. Between 2016 and 2025, gas reserves were filled to slightly less than one-third on average on March 25.

Filling the gas reserves will be more difficult and expensive this year due to the war in the Middle East. Iran responded to the United States and Israel’s attacks by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a very important shipping route for liquefied natural gas (LNG). The blockade of the sea route is leading to global concerns about gas availability.

The Netherlands itself is not very dependent on gas from the Middle East, but the blockade is increasing competition for the gas sources the Netherlands does use. Higher demand and less supply result in price increases.

Gasunie stressed that it does not expect shortages. “At the moment, we see that the supply of gas to the Netherlands is stable. There are no disruptions at our LNG terminals, and gas is still coming in via the pipelines as well. Consequently, gas availability is currently at a good level,” a spokeswoman emphasized. "For now, there are sufficient gas flows from elsewhere, and there is enough for the Netherlands."

On Tuesday, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) warned that the Iran war would mean higher inflation and lower economic growth for the Netherlands and hit households’ purchasing power. Though the central bank stressed that the effects will be more limited than in the 2022 energy crisis, which was sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Later today, the Cabinet is debating with parliament on the consequences of the Iran war. They’ll also discuss potential support for households and compensation for higher energy bills. The DNB stressed that the government finances are not in a great position. If the government does decide to take income support measures for citizens, the measures must be temporary and very targeted to only the households that need them, the regulator said.