Around 300,000 Dutch households face financial strain as energy prices surge

Around 300,000 Dutch households are set to face a financial squeeze as energy and fuel prices surge, driven by disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, according to a study released today by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) . While the majority of Dutch households will experience only limited financial strain, the CPB warns that the price shock will disproportionately affect lower-income groups, who spend a larger share of their budgets on energy.

The study, published on 18 June 2026, estimates that the price surge—linked to ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz—will push up household energy bills by an average of €150 to €200 annually. Fuel prices have already climbed by 8% since the start of June, with further increases expected as global supply chains adjust to the disruption. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil shipments, has resumed but remains volatile, with analysts warning that full normalization could take months .

The CPB’s findings underscore the uneven impact of the crisis. Households with lower incomes, who typically spend up to 10% of their disposable income on energy, will feel the pinch more acutely than wealthier households, for whom the same expenses account for just 3%. The study also highlights regional disparities, with rural areas—where heating oil and propane remain common—more exposed to price volatility than urban centers reliant on natural gas.

Dutch authorities have yet to announce targeted measures to mitigate the impact, though the government has previously signaled its willingness to extend temporary relief measures if prices continue to rise. Meanwhile, fuel retailers have begun adjusting prices in response to the global market shifts, with some stations on the Canary Islands already under investigation for alleged price gouging .

Economists caution that the situation remains fluid, with further price adjustments likely as supply chains stabilize. "The normalization of Hormuz traffic will take time, and the market is still reacting to the uncertainty," said a spokesperson for the Portuguese energy regulator, echoing concerns raised by analysts in recent days . The CPB’s study, however, suggests that for most Dutch households, the worst of the price surge may already be priced in—provided no further escalation occurs in the region.