Despite a commitment by EU nations to cease Russian LNG imports by next year, the Netherlands continues to source approximately 12% of its liquid natural gas from Russia. A study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlights that the Netherlands is among five countries, including Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal, still engaging in Russian LNG imports. Notably, Belgium received 40% of its gas from Russia in the first quarter of this year.
Quantifying the exact volume designated for the Dutch market poses challenges since a significant portion of imports arriving at Rotterdam harbor is intended for other European countries. According to Jilles van den Beukel from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, the volume of imports was unexpectedly high. In contrast, the Netherlands saw a slight reduction from 2025 when 13% of its gas imports were Russian, a notable decrease from the 34% in 2022, the year Russia intensified its military actions in Ukraine.
In 2025, Dutch imports of Russian LNG experienced an uptick. Climate and green growth minister Sophie Hermans attributed this rise to enduring long-term contracts that are not easily dissolved. In response, the IEEFA has urged European nations to amplify their investments in renewable energy, which could help curb gas consumption by 14% by 2030, consequently trimming demand by 23%.
The EU has slated a ban on Russian natural gas imports via sea containers starting in 2027, with pipeline imports facing cessation next spring. To offset these reductions, the Netherlands and its European counterparts have been increasing their imports from the United States, which now constitutes 77% of their natural gas sources.
Jilles van den Beukel pointed out that geopolitical tensions, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran conflicts—through which 20% of the world’s liquid gas supplies pass—have complicated the EU’s plans to eliminate Russian gas imports and have increased prices. He speculated that the EU might reconsider postponing its ban, balancing the need to prevent further market tightening and avoiding inadvertently bolstering Russian financial resources.