Resilience ‘elsewhere’
Well-being in the Netherlands could be negatively affected by shocks elsewhere in the world. Dependencies on the rest of the world mean that this well-being is vulnerable. Some scarce resources are not found in the Netherlands, and the supply of these resources may be uncertain due to disruption of supply chains as a result of, for example, geopolitical tensions.
- In 2024, the Netherlands relied on foreign energy imports for 68.9 percent of its energy use.
- The share of renewable energy in gross national energy consumption has grown significantly.
Cross-border dependencies
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2020
in EU
in 2020
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-border dependencies | Dependency on energy imports | 68.9% of energy is imported in 2024 | 20th out of 27 in 2023 | Middle ranking | |
| Cross-border dependencies | Economic dependence on exports | 35.2% of GDP is generated by exports in 2023 | 14th out of 27 in 2020 | Middle ranking | |
| Cross-border dependencies | Greenhouse gas footprint A) | 13.5 tonnes CO2 equivalents per capita in 2022 | 17th out of 27 in 2020 | Middle ranking |
A lack of essential resources and uncertainty in the supply chain, for example due to geopolitical tensions, pose a threat to Dutch well-being. The Netherlands is highly dependent on other countries for its energy supply, for access to rare and precious metals that are used in indispensable products such as computers, phones, solar panels and electric cars, and – as an exporter of goods and services – for its economic prosperity. Demand for scarce resources is high. The more products the Netherlands imports, the larger its footprint becomes elsewhere in the world.
In 2024, the Netherlands relied on foreign energy imports for 68.9 percent of its energy use. Dependence on energy imports has levelled off, ending the previous upward trend. Meanwhile, the share of renewable energy in gross national energy consumption has grown significantly (from 6.5 percent in 2017 to 17.4 percent in 2023). The Netherlands has also moved up towards the middle of the EU-27 ranking, climbing from 24th place in 2022 to 20th place in 2023.
Exports account for more than a third of gross domestic product (35.2 percent in 2023). The Netherlands’ greenhouse gas footprint is average compared to other EU countries.