The Netherlands continues to import approximately 12% of its liquid natural gas (LNG) from Russia, despite the European Union’s commitment to cease all such imports by the following year. A recent analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) identified the Netherlands as one of five European nations still purchasing Russian LNG, alongside Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal. Notably, Belgium sourced 40% of its gas from Russia in the first quarter of this year.
Determining the precise volume allocated to the Dutch market is challenging, as a significant portion of the LNG arriving in Rotterdam is intended for other European destinations. Jilles van den Beukel from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies remarked that the volume was “much larger than I had expected.” Compared to 2025, when 13% of the Netherlands’ gas imports were Russian, the current percentage reflects a minor decrease. However, it is a marked reduction from 2022, the year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when 34% of the gas was sourced from Russia.
In 2025, there was an uptick in imports, attributed by climate and green growth minister Sophie Hermans to long-term contracts that are difficult to terminate. The IEEFA has urged European nations to bolster their investments in renewable energy sources to diminish reliance on gas, advocating for a potential 14% reduction in consumption by 2030, which could translate to a 23% decrease in demand.
As part of its strategy to phase out Russian gas, the European Union has instituted a ban on imports of Russian natural gas by sea containers starting in 2027, with pipeline imports set to end next spring. To offset this, the Netherlands and other EU countries have increased imports from the United States, which now account for 77% of their gas supply. However, Van den Beukel noted that the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route handling 20% of liquid gas supplies, amid tensions between Iran and the USA, has complicated the EU’s efforts and led to price hikes.
Van den Beukel expressed concern that the EU might reconsider its timeline for implementing the ban. “I wouldn’t raise my eyebrows if Brussels postponed the date for the ban again,” he stated, highlighting the dilemma of avoiding a tighter, more expensive LNG market while not wanting to financially support Russia further.
