Despite European Union commitments to cease all imports of Russian liquid natural gas (LNG) by next year, the Netherlands continues to import approximately 12% of its LNG from Russia. The country is among five European nations, including Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal, that have maintained LNG imports from Russia. In the first quarter of this year, Belgium sourced 40% of its gas from Russia. The exact quantity designated for the Dutch market remains unclear, as a significant portion of the imports arriving at Rotterdam harbor is intended for other European nations. Jilles van den Beukel from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies described the volume as “much larger than I had expected.”
The percentage of Russian gas imports in the Netherlands has seen a slight decline from 2025, when it was 13%, yet it is significantly lower than in 2022, the year Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, at which point it was 34%. The increase in 2025 was attributed to binding long-term purchasing agreements that are challenging to terminate, as explained by climate and green growth minister Sophie Hermans. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has urged European nations to bolster their renewable energy investments to curb gas consumption and mitigate exposure to price volatility and supply interruptions. The institute suggests that Europe could potentially reduce consumption by 14% by 2030, thereby decreasing demand by 23%.
Looking ahead, the European Union has set a ban on Russian natural gas imports via sea containers starting in 2027, with pipeline imports to be restricted from next spring. To compensate, the Netherlands, alongside other European countries, has increased its imports of natural gas from the United States, which now accounts for 77% of their imports. However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial channel for 20% of the world’s liquid gas supplies, during the conflict between Iran and the USA has complicated the EU’s efforts to eliminate Russian gas imports and has contributed to rising energy prices.
Jilles van den Beukel expressed skepticism about the EU’s timeline for the gas import ban, noting the potential for a delay. “I wouldn’t raise my eyebrows if Brussels postponed the date for the ban again,” he remarked. The dilemma lies in balancing the desire to avoid tightening the LNG market, which would drive up costs, with the goal of not financially supporting Russia’s military endeavors.