Netherlands - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Current operations
The Netherlands operates one reactor, Borssele, a pressurized water reactor in operation since 1973, which supplies about 3% of national electricity generation. The Nuclear Energy Act originally set a shutdown date of 2033. Parliament has now removed that date, and the government has asked for operation to 2054. There are no reactors under construction.
Table Ne.1 Nuclear capacity status (as of 1 October 2026)
| Operable reactors | Operable reactors net capacity (MWe) | Operable reactors gross capacity (MWe) | Reactors under construction | Reactors under construction gross capacity (MWe) | Carbon dioxide emissions avoided (cf. coal) (MtCO2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 482 | 515 | - | - | 173 |
Nuclear policy and outlook
The 2026 coalition agreement commits the government to at least four new reactors, which may include both conventional reactors and SMRs. The state-owned Nuclear Energy Organisation Netherlands (NEO NL) was established on 16 February 2026 to prepare, build and operate the first two units. The cabinet narrowed the candidate sites in June 2026 to Terneuzen and Eemshaven. The earlier 2035 completion date has been abandoned: the minister told parliament that a new plant online by 2035 is unlikely.
In August 2026 NEO NL awarded EDF and Westinghouse contracts for design studies for the two plants. KHNP withdrew from the technology selection in March 2025. In June 2026 the government published a roadmap towards a possible 7 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2050, for both electrical and directly supplied thermal capacity, and said a decision on the third and fourth units was expected around 2028. It also said it would not fund first-of-a-kind small reactors.
Table Ne.2 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)
| 60 year operation (MWe) | 80 year operation (MWe) | Currently under construction capacity (MWe) | Planned capacity (MWe) | Proposed capacity (MWe) | Potential capacity (MWe) | Government capacity target (MWe) | Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe) | Total capacity (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 515 | - | - | 2650 | - | 7000 | 3835 | 7000 |
| *Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target. | ||||||||
Readiness Assessment
The Netherlands has moved beyond a general political commitment to nuclear energy and is developing a structured, state-led programme. The government supports continued operation of the existing Borssele reactor and has committed to finance at least four new nuclear power reactors. It has reserved substantial public funding, established NEO NL as the prospective owner and operator of new reactors, and advanced site-selection, regulatory, workforce and supply-chain preparations.
| Country Category | Restarter |
|---|---|
| Policy Framework Readiness | Moderate-High The government has made a commitment to continued operation of Borssele and development of at least four new reactors. |
| Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness | Moderate-High The Netherlands has an established independent regulator, an experienced operator at Borssele, strong research and waste-management institutions. NEO NL provides an ownership structure. As a newly established organisation it will need to recruit staff and develop the systems and experience needed to deliver and operate several reactors. Regulatory and workforce capacity must also expand significantly. |
| Programme & Project Development Readiness | Low-Moderate The first two large reactors have government backing, preparatory funding and active site studies, but no final site, reactor design, financing model, licence application or construction contract. The third and fourth reactors and/or any SMRs are at an early stage of development. |
| Target Achievability | Moderate Construction of substantial new nuclear capacity is credible, but delivery of at least four plants is not yet assured. |
