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The Netherlands against Europe's big four on energy imports

Race · 2 Nov 2026

Line race of net energy imports as a share of energy use, 1990 to 2024, for the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, the UK and France. The Netherlands, in gold, starts at 28% and climbs past France and the UK in 2015, Germany in 2018 and Italy, ending at 88%. Italy ends at 79%, Germany 70%, the UK 48% and France 42%. A note at 2014 marks the cap on Groningen gas.

The Netherlands now imports 88% of its energy

In 1990 it was 28%. Groningen, once Europe's biggest gas field, was capped after earthquakes in 2014 and stopped producing in 2023. In 2022 net imports reached 99%.

Source: World Bank (IEA), 2024