New offshore wind farms

Why is wind energy important?

We would like to be energy independent. And as the Netherlands becomes more sustainable, our electricity consumption will increase. The intention is to use increasingly more and more electricity instead of fossil fuels. 

Offshore wind energy provides 'clean’ electricity that reduces CO₂ emissions. It is also a reliable source of energy because of strong and constant winds in the Dutch North Sea. That is why we will need a lot of it in the future, because we want to be climate neutral by 2050.

Goals

We have more than achieved our first goal of 4.5 GW in 2023. In total, we had 4.7 GW of offshore wind energy by the end of that year.

Under the current Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap, our goal is to reach 21 GW installed capacity. When we reach the 21 GW goal, Dutch offshore wind farms will supply 16% of the energy we need in the Netherlands. Permits for 5.5 GW of capacity have already been awarded to developers and new wind farms are under construction.

By 2040, we will need between 30-40 GW of offshore wind energy capacity. This will enable us to generate enough energy to meet the Netherlands’ energy consumption needs. This is stated in the North Sea Wind Energy Infrastructure Plan of July 2025.

That is less than the previously expected estimate of 50GW. This is because the transition from fossil fuels to electricity use by, amongst others, industry, is lagging behind. The costs of constructing offshore wind farms have also risen. 

You can read more about the North Sea Wind Energy Infrastructure Plan on the page Offshore Energy Infrastructure.

Two-way contracts for offshore wind energy

From 2027, the Netherlands will transition from subsidies to two-way contracts to support the construction of offshore wind farms. These contracts are also known as Contracts for Difference (CfDs). Under a CfD, developers enter into an agreement with the government, setting a fixed price for the energy generated. If the market price is lower than the agreed rate, developers receive financial support; if the price is higher, they pay the difference back to the government.

As more of these contracts are introduced, their influence on the electricity market will grow. To gain a clearer understanding of ther impact, a study was carried out to assess how CfDs will affect the future of the Dutch electricity market (the report is attached below, in Dutch). The findings include recommendations for CfD design, with preliminary choices outlined in the Letter to Parliament (in Dutch) of 20 March for offshore wind, onshore wind, and solar energy.

The first offshore wind CfDs are planned to launch towards the end of 2027, with guidance from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving in Dutch, PBL). To inform the 2027 advice, the PBL inviting stakeholders to provide their input by filling a consultation form (in Dutch). Responses should be submitted by 17 April 2026 to sde@pbl.nl. If further discussion is required , it will be held between 4 and 29 May.

For more information on why the Netherlands is switching to CfDs, visit the page on two-way contracts for solar and wind energy  (in Dutch).

Energy yield research

A recent study indicated that the expected energy output of offshore wind farms may have been overestimated. In the letter to Parliament issued on 20 January, you can read that we are not adjusting our expected energy output estimates as a result of this study.

We trust the current research methods and assumptions. Therefore, the role of offshore wind in the future energy system remains unchanged. 

The study found that different assumptions about the size and design of wind farms can lead to varying results in energy output. We continue to update our knowledge in this area, which helps us make better estimates of how much energy offshore wind farms will generate.

For more details, see the earlier research by the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth on the energy yields of existing and planned offshore wind farms.

Read the letter to Parliament:

New wind farm zones

Because offshore wind energy will continue to increase after completion of the current Roadmap, we are already looking at new wind farm zones. In these zones, the Government can designate sites for the construction of wind farms after the current Roadmap timeframe. The Government is designating these new wind farm zones in the so-called 'Partial Revision of the North Sea Programme'. This is a supplement to the North Sea Programme 2022-2027. We expect the new Partial Revision in the first quarter of 2026.

The draft Partial Revision is included in the Letter to Parliament dated Friday 18 April. The Government is planning to designate Doordewind (west) Wind Farm Zone and Search area 6/7 as locations for new wind farms.

Plans for offshore energy infrastructure and landfall

There are also plans for offshore energy infrastructure and the landing of wind energy (from sea to land). More information about this can be found on the pages below.

• Offshore Energy Infrastructure
• Landfall of offshore wind energy: from sea to land

Want to know more?

In the documents below you can read more about the Government's vision for offshore wind energy.

• North Sea Energy Outlook
• Future scenarios