# Shocked by gas bills, thrifty Dutch stockpile coal, wood for winter
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-09-30
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Dutch Turn to Coal and Wood as Gas Prices Soar
Meta Description: Discover how the Dutch are turning to coal, wood, and pellets for heating as gas bills skyrocket due to tensions in Ukraine and dwindling gas supplies.
URL: https://financedigest.com/shocked-by-gas-bills-thrifty-dutch-stockpile-coal-wood-for-winterhtml

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By Stephanie van den Berg

VEENENDAAL, Netherlands (Reuters) – The budget-conscious Dutch, who enjoyed abundant cheap gas for half a century to heat their homes, are turning to more traditional heating methods as cold weather reaches the Netherlands.

Sales of coal, wood and pellets for heating stoves have jumped as consumers seek cheaper energy alternatives to counter sky-rocketing gas bills in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Customers visiting the warehouse of coal merchant Wim van Beek in the central [Dutch town of Veenendaal this week were primarily looking to trim spending](https://www.financedigest.com/dutch-to-spend-16-billion-to-cushion-effects-of-inflation-media.html "Dutch to spend billion to cushion effects of inflation -media") on heating, the merchant told Reuters.

They were also [worried about the security of commercial energy supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/keystone-oil-pipeline-restart-timetable-unclear-traders-worry-about-supply.html "Keystone oil pipeline restart timetable unclear; traders worry about supply") amid the escalating confrontation between the West and Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, adding that sales volumes were as high as in the 1980s.

Customers were driven by the belief that “if I have coal in my shed I will be warm this winter. Then if Putin goes nuts or three more [gas pipelines](https://www.financedigest.com/norway-plans-to-nationalise-gas-pipelines-when-concessions-expire.html "Norway plans to nationalise gas pipelines when concessions expire") get sabotaged, I have my heating sorted”, Van Beek said.

Gazprom-led [Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/denmark-invites-nord-stream-operator-to-help-salvage-unidentified-object.html "Denmark invites Nord Stream operator to help salvage unidentified object") 1 and 2 pipelines were hit by leaks this week. European leaders and Moscow [say they cannot rule](https://www.financedigest.com/crypto-firms-will-develop-offshore-without-clear-us-rules-coinbase-chief-says.html "Crypto firms will develop ‘offshore’ without clear US rules, Coinbase chief says") out sabotage as a cause of the damage.

The Dutch government has been buying oil and gas and announced an 18 billion euro ($17.55 billion) support package to help [households in 2023 cope with rising energy bills](https://www.financedigest.com/44-of-uk-households-are-worried-theyll-have-to-foot-the-bill-for-net-zero.html "44% of UK Households are Worried They’ll Have to Foot the Bill for Net Zero"), and to stave off a predicted collapse in consumer spending power.

Energy companies in the Netherlands are starting to pass [soaring costs](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-other-retailers-revamp-free-shipping-as-costs-soar.html "Amazon, other retailers revamp ‘free’ shipping as costs soar") on to consumers, sometimes doubling bills, threatening to push up to a million people into poverty. [Energy prices are also driving record](https://www.financedigest.com/energy-bill-support-pushes-uk-budget-deficit-to-february-record.html "Energy bill support pushes UK budget deficit to February record") inflation.

LESS EFFICIENT, MORE POLLUTING

For decades, the Netherlands’ domestic gas supply was met by a massive field in the northern province of Groningen, which [heated millions](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-launches-270-million-pound-fund-to-support-green-heating-technology.html "UK launches 270 million pound fund to support green heating technology") of homes and supplied EU countries. In unfortunate timing, this [source is being cut off entirely due to the risk](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-governors-see-rising-risk-of-rate-hitting-2-to-curb-inflation-sources.html "ECB governors see rising risk of rate hitting 2% to curb inflation – sources") of earthquakes.

“Demand for stoves has more than doubled,” said Suzanne Bakker of Passion for Pellets, which sells a range of different wood-burning furnaces.

Coal and wood burning is up to 90% less efficient than gas, more [environmentally damaging and poses a greater health risk](https://www.financedigest.com/how-data-visualisation-is-helping-the-insurance-sector-understand-environmental-risks.html "How data visualisation is helping the insurance sector understand environmental risks") than gas-powered central heating systems, studies have shows.

A 2019 report by Dutch scientists for the Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) in neighbouring Belgium found that an open fireplace leads to environmental [costs 250 times higher than those for modern gas-fired central heating](https://www.financedigest.com/cutting-business-costs-pros-of-using-commercial-heat-pumps-in-2016.html "Cutting business costs: Pros of using commercial heat pumps in 2016"). Even new wood-burning systems have five to 12 [times greater environmental costs](https://www.financedigest.com/netflixs-gaming-foray-will-cost-time-and-money-wall-st.html "Netflix’s gaming foray will cost time and money – Wall St") than gas-fired units, it found.

However, environmental and health concerns are falling by the wayside as people grapple with soaring [energy bills](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-why-europe-faces-climbing-energy-bills.html "Explainer-Why Europe faces climbing energy bills").

Gas prices are up so much and you have try and [save some money](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-save-money-for-a-car.html "How to save money for a car") somewhere,” said Wim Lobbe, 73, as he loaded three 75-kilogram bags of coal into the trunk of his electric car.

Lobbe said he uses the coal to supplement his wood-burning stove as firewood [prices have “exploded” in 18 months from 70 euros](https://www.financedigest.com/carrefour-unveils-30-euro-shopping-basket-in-spain-after-government-price-cut-proposal.html "Carrefour unveils 30 euro shopping basket in Spain after government price cut proposal") per cubic meter to 110 euros now.

Maybe this way I will have some wood left over for [next year,”](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-could-face-gas-shortage-next-year-iea-warns.html "EU could face gas shortage next year, IEA warns") he said.

($1 = 1.0254 euros)

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, additional reporting by Piroschka van de Wou; Editing by Anthony Deutsch and Raissa Kasolowsky)


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