Electricity and Home Appliances in the Netherlands

Information on the domestic power available for household appliances (cookers, irons, dryers), the european plug and television standards in the Netherlands.

Many utilities companies in the Netherlands offer integrated services, providing both gas and electricity supplies.

To find the energy suppliers for an area, contact the local municipality (Gemeentehuis). While not totally de-regulated, the utilities market in the Netherlands does provide the customer with a choice of supplier, including some that offer energy from renewable sources.

Power

The Netherlands' electricity supply is 230 volts - 50Hz AC.

Note: A country's available voltage is printed on the glass of a light bulb, or the light bulb packet.

Plugs

There are three types of sockets and plugs all of which are with two round pins, round plug with earth side connectors, round plug without earth and a slim flat plug without earth. An adapter, which can be bought from hardware and DIY stores and some supermarkets, will be needed for appliances with other types of plug.

For diagrams, see plug Type C and plug Type F

Appliances

Household appliances from a country with a different frequency and voltage (such as the United States, where it is 110 volts - 60 Hz) may need a transformer and/or adaptor in order to function properly (or at all).

Television System

The transmission standard in the Netherlands is PAL. A non-PAL compatible television in the Netherlands will not receive a signal or be able to broadcast sound and picture.

There are three main television/video standards in use throughout the world.

The system used in the US, Canada, Japan and some other countries is NTSC
Most of Western Europe (including the Netherlands), Australasia and Southern Africa use a system called PAL
Eastern Europe and France use SECAM

The three standards are not compatible with each other. This means that a TV signal (or video) produced for one system can not be viewed on equipment that's been designed for another. Multi-standard European TVs and VCRs with automatic switching circuitry are available from electronics suppliers.