A fixed one-year energy contract now costs the average Dutch household around €277 per month, a leap of €53 since the start of February.
That’s according to the latest report from the energy comparison website Keuze.nl, which has tracked the average annual energy prices across 17 suppliers.
If your contract is coming up for renewal, here’s what to know before you make a decision.
How much have prices risen by?
As compiled by Keuze.nl, the average consumer gas price is:
- 2.4% higher than a month ago,
- and 24.8% higher than in August 2025.
While electricity prices haven’t risen as steeply, they’re still:
- 1.5% higher than a month ago,
- and 17.8% higher than in August 2025.
Though these figures may not seem all that alarming on their own, back in June, RaboResearch predicted a new average contract could hit €270 a month by autumn. At €277 per month, we’ve blown past that estimate already.
What does this mean for your wallet?
The effects depend entirely on the type of energy contract you’ve got.
With a vast (fixed) contract, your rate stays locked in until the contract expires, so the current spike won’t affect you — unless you’re taking out a new fixed contract or renewing your old one right now.
With a variabel (variable) contract, your provider adjusts the rate a few times per year, typically monthly or quarterly. And with a dynamisch (dynamic) contract, your energy prices change every fifteen minutes to an hour.
Keuze.nl floats one example of a cost breakdown, with a variable energy contract:
| Household | Gas and power | Power only |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people in an apartment | €153.25 | €55.57 |
| 3 people in a terraced house | €198.68 | €68.02 |
| 4 people in a corner house | €233.15 | €80.93 |
“During a severe winter, gas prices can rise much further,” Keuze.nl energy expert Geert Wirken warns. “You won’t feel this if you have a fixed contract at that time. You will, however, if you have a variable or dynamic contract.”
Should you lock in, you could “pay as much as €200 less per year in variable delivery costs”. Factor in the welcome bonuses that many providers offer to new customers, and that figure jumps to over €600.
Why are energy prices still rising?
Two main factors contribute to the sustained price hike, according to Keuze.nl. Gas reserves are uncomfortably low, especially with heating season around the corner, and geopolitical tensions near supply routes continue to affect the market.
Specifically, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route in the Persian Gulf, has made it much harder to keep gas flowing to Europe.
Given the ongoing tension in the region, analysts don’t expect price drops anytime soon.
Keuze.nl expects an average of €66 per MWh for the heating season from October, 2026 to March, 2027. At the consumer price, that translates to around €1.61 per m³.
Have you locked in a fixed energy contract, or are you determined to ride out the more flexible dynamic or variable contracts this winter? Share your thoughts in the comments.
