District heating in Rotterdam: how the heat network works (2025)
Rotterdam is among the frontrunners in district heating in the Netherlands. The city operates one of the largest and most complex heat networks in the country, supplied by various sources such as residual heat from the port, waste incineration and an increasing number of sustainable alternatives.
But how exactly does district heating in Rotterdam work?
Which projects are currently underway?
And what does this mean for residents, businesses and property managers?
This blog explains how the heat network is organised, which challenges exist, and how Rotterdam is preparing for a gas-free heat future.
Why district heating is so important for Rotterdam
Rotterdam has a unique energy infrastructure. The port, industrial zones and residential areas are located close to one another, making it possible to capture large volumes of residual heat and reuse them for homes and businesses.
District heating offers three major advantages for the city:
- CO₂ reduction: residual heat from refineries and industry replaces natural gas
- Space efficiency: collective heating is ideal for high-rise and dense urban areas
- Scalable expansion: the network grows by thousands of connections every year
Rotterdam has also been designated a leading municipality in the heat transition, meaning it is one of the first cities to move away from gas towards district heating on a large scale.
How does district heating work in Rotterdam?
The heat network consists of three main components:
1. Heat sources
Rotterdam uses several types of heat sources:
Industrial residual heat
A large share of the heat comes from the port, where refineries and factories produce continuous excess heat. Instead of releasing it into the air or the River Maas, this heat is reused.
Waste incineration
At AVR in Rozenburg, large amounts of heat are released during waste processing. This heat supplies a significant part of the network.
Sustainable sources under development
Rotterdam is investing in:
- Geothermal energy projects
- Large-scale heat pumps
- Aquathermal energy
- Future integration with hydrogen-based scenarios
These developments aim to reduce dependency on industrial residual heat.
2. Distribution via a large-scale pipeline network
The Rotterdam heat network consists of kilometres of insulated pipelines running through districts such as:
- Rotterdam-Zuid
- IJsselmonde
- Feijenoord
- Nieuw Crooswijk
- Noordereiland
- City centre (phased expansion)
The pipes transport water at temperatures of approximately 70–90°C to buildings. The cooled return water flows back to the source to be reheated.
3. Heat interface units in buildings
Each building is equipped with a heat interface unit that provides:
- Safe heat transfer via a heat exchanger
- Domestic hot water
- Integration with thermostats or building management systems
Important: the hot water from the heat network never comes into direct contact with the internal heating system.
Who supplies district heating in Rotterdam?
Heat supply in Rotterdam is provided by:
- Eneco (largest heat supplier)
- Vattenfall (serving smaller areas, depending on location)
- Local heat initiatives for specific projects
The municipality also works closely with Warmtebedrijf Rotterdam, although this organisation has been restructured in recent years following unsuccessful expansion plans towards Leiden.
Key district heating projects in Rotterdam
- WarmtelinQ (towards The Hague and Leiden)
A regional project connecting Rotterdam with other cities in South Holland to enable better heat sharing. - Hart van Zuid geothermal project
Rotterdam aims to develop multiple geothermal sources for sustainable, local heat supply. - Smart heat networks
Increasing parts of the city are being equipped with data-driven monitoring, smart integrations and optimisation technologies, improving both efficiency and affordability.
What does district heating cost in Rotterdam?
Like all Dutch cities, Rotterdam applies tariffs regulated by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
However, residents sometimes experience higher costs due to:
- High fixed charges
- Relatively low annual consumption
- Inefficiently configured installations
- Limited insight into return temperatures and energy usage
This is where modern heat management can make a significant difference.
Read also: Average monthly costs of district heating
Challenges of district heating in Rotterdam
Despite being ahead of many other municipalities, Rotterdam also faces challenges:
1. Dependency on industrial heat
Residual heat is sustainable, but not fully future-proof. Industry must reduce its footprint towards 2050, requiring alternative heat sources.
2. Heat losses in older network sections
As in other cities, some heat is lost in older parts of the network. Continuous monitoring is needed to reduce this.
3. Lack of insight for residents
Many households do not know:
- Their exact energy consumption
- Why they pay certain tariffs
- Whether their installation operates efficiently
4. New governance under the Collective Heat Act (WCW)
From 2025–2026 onwards, municipalities will gain much stronger control, significantly changing roles for suppliers and building owners.
Opportunities for Rotterdam
1. New sustainable heat sources
Geothermal projects can provide thousands of homes with source-independent heat.
2. Smarter, data-driven heat management
With advanced monitoring, operators, housing corporations and businesses can:
- Detect deviations more quickly
- Reduce return temperatures
- Compare performance across buildings
- Enable predictive maintenance
3. Efficiency gains through better system configuration
Many buildings do not use heat optimally. Improved control can deliver 10–20% savings without loss of comfort.
4. Improved collaboration under the WCW
The new law mandates:
- Transparent cost structures
- Sustainability reporting
- Public governance
- Higher performance standards for heat networks
This positions Rotterdam to become a model city for fair and efficient heat management.
What does district heating in Rotterdam mean for property managers?
Rotterdam features extensive high-rise housing, apartment complexes and mixed-use buildings. This makes district heating attractive—but also complex.
Property managers must deal with:
- Cost allocation via distribution keys
- Monitoring of individual and collective meters
- Reporting for WCW, ESG or CSRD requirements
- Maintenance of heat interface units and building management systems
More and more managers are adopting smart data processing solutions, enabling automated billing data and clear insight into system efficiency.
Conclusion: Rotterdam is ready for the next step in district heating
District heating in Rotterdam is already well developed, but the biggest transformation is yet to come.
With new heat sources, improved monitoring and stricter requirements under the Collective Heat Act, the heat network will become:
- More sustainable
- Smarter
- More efficient
- More transparent
This positions Rotterdam as one of the most future-proof heat regions in the Netherlands.
Want to know how your organisation can manage district heating more intelligently within your building or property portfolio?
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Frequently asked questions about district heating in Rotterdam
What is district heating?
District heating is a system where heat—often residual heat from industry—is supplied to buildings via a network of pipes for space heating and hot water.
How sustainable is district heating in Rotterdam?
Thanks to residual heat and the development of sustainable sources such as geothermal energy and aquathermal heat, district heating in Rotterdam is a relatively sustainable solution.
What does district heating cost in Rotterdam?
Costs consist of consumption charges, fixed fees and potential connection costs. Tariffs are regulated by the ACM but vary by situation.
Which suppliers operate in Rotterdam?
Eneco is the largest supplier, with Vattenfall and several local initiatives also active in the region.
What does the Collective Heat Act (WCW) mean for me?
From 2025–2026 onwards, municipalities gain more control. For users, this means greater transparency, better performance and new obligations for suppliers.
Can I save on district heating?
Yes. Optimising return temperatures, system settings and consumption monitoring can reduce costs by up to 20% without sacrificing comfort.
Is district heating suitable for apartment buildings?
Absolutely. District heating is particularly efficient in high-rise buildings, provided that cost allocation and monitoring are properly organised.