The Netherlands has only one operating commercial nuclear reactor, but nuclear energy has regained a prominent place in national power policy. The Borssele plant supplies a small share of Dutch electricity, while wind and solar have expanded rapidly. Even so, the government now views nuclear generation as a source of dependable low-carbon power that can support an increasingly electrified economy.
The policy has three connected parts: keeping Borssele open beyond its current legal closing date, preparing the first two new large reactors and maintaining a longer-term ambition for four new plants. The first projects have entered location, financing and technology studies, but the programme remains years away from construction and final commercial commitment.
Borssele Has More Strategic Value Than Its Size Suggests
The Borssele nuclear power plant began commercial operation in 1973. It is a pressurized water reactor operated by EPZ, with net electrical output of about 482 MW. The plant normally provides around 3% of Dutch electricity, making it a modest contributor when measured against total national generation.
Its strategic importance is larger than that percentage. Borssele supports the operators, engineers, regulators and contractors that give the Netherlands a working nuclear skills base. Closing it before new reactors are ready would create a long gap in commercial operation.
Under existing law, Borssele must close at the end of 2033. The government has submitted legislation that would remove this fixed date and allow EPZ to seek regulatory approval for longer operation. The legal change would not itself grant an extension; the plant would still have to meet updated safety requirements.
IAEA missions in 2024 and 2025 reviewed long-term operation and operational safety at Borssele, finding a commitment to safe operation while identifying areas for continued improvement. Dutch regulators are preparing for a possible licensing period from 2034 to 2053, subject to technical evidence and approval.
The First Two New Reactors Are Moving Through Site Selection
The government’s expansion programme is most advanced for the first two new large reactors. Seven possible sites are being assessed across four areas: the Sloe industrial area around Borssele and Vlissingen, Terneuzen, Maasvlakte II near Rotterdam and Eemshaven in Groningen.
Borssele was initially the political preference because it already has nuclear infrastructure, grid connections, an experienced workforce and the COVRA waste facility nearby. The formal process is broader, with environmental, technical, spatial, cost and community effects being compared across all seven sites.
The final research plan, published in February 2026, covers safety, nature, cooling water, construction effects and long-term site conditions. A provisional location decision is expected after summer 2026, followed by further planning and licensing.
The state is also creating NEO NL, a company intended to own the project, contract with the reactor supplier and eventually operate the plants. The model reflects the conclusion that private investment alone is unlikely to carry the programme.
The current schedule assumes that new reactors would not begin operating until the late 2030s. That makes Borssele’s extension an important bridge rather than a separate policy. Delays in site selection, financing, procurement or licensing could push first generation even further into the future.
Nuclear Power Is Being Added to a Renewable-Heavy System
Renewable sources produced about half of Dutch electricity in 2024, supported by rapid offshore wind and solar growth. Total generation reached a record level in 2025, while cross-border trade remained important.
Nuclear policy is not designed to reverse that renewable expansion. The government presents reactors as a complement to variable wind and solar generation. A nuclear plant can produce large volumes of electricity with low direct carbon emissions and limited land use, while operating independently of daily weather conditions.
New reactors would enter a system with periods of high renewable output, strong interconnection and serious grid congestion. Their economics will depend on operating patterns, flexibility and whether demand grows enough to absorb both renewable and nuclear generation.
Demand from transport, heating, data centers, industry and hydrogen could strengthen the case for firm generation, but its timing is uncertain. Reactors must be planned for the system of the late 2030s and 2040s, not today’s market.
Financing and Delivery Will Decide Whether Four Reactors Become Real
Large reactors require high initial investment and financing structures that can absorb delays and cost increases. The government has reserved €14.1 billion in the Climate Fund for nuclear-related work, including preparation, Borssele’s extension, knowledge development and small-reactor research. It is not a complete construction budget for four plants.
For the first two reactors, the government is developing a support package that could combine state ownership, guarantees, regulated revenue or other forms of public risk sharing. NEO NL is intended to give the state a direct role in the project instead of relying on a private utility to carry the full exposure.
Technology selection will affect cost and schedule. International vendors have completed feasibility work, but no design or construction contract has been selected. A standardized design may reduce risk, while still having to meet Dutch and European requirements.
The Netherlands retains expertise at Borssele, ANVS, COVRA, research institutions and the enrichment industry. Four new reactors would still require a major expansion of engineering, construction, inspection and operating skills, with training beginning years before operation.
Radioactive Waste Policy Must Expand With the Programme
The Netherlands has a centralized system for radioactive waste. Spent fuel from Borssele is sent to France for reprocessing. Reusable materials are separated, while the resulting high-level waste is returned to the Netherlands and stored by COVRA near Borssele.
The IAEA concluded in 2023 that the system manages current waste effectively, while recommending further work on long-term policy and waste-acceptance arrangements. The Netherlands relies on extended surface storage before eventual geological disposal. No final site has been selected, and a firmer national plan is intended around 2050.
New reactors would increase the volume of spent fuel and radioactive waste that must be financed, transported and stored. They would also operate for many decades, making waste policy part of the original investment decision rather than a subject that can be postponed until plants are running.
The Netherlands Is Building a Programme, Not Yet a Fleet
The Netherlands is preparing institutions, sites and financing for a larger nuclear role, while also examining small modular reactors as a possible later addition.
The most important test is whether the government can convert the first two proposed reactors into licensed and financed projects. Extending Borssele would preserve generation and expertise, but it would not guarantee new construction. Similarly, an ambition for four reactors does not mean that four plants have reached the same stage of development.
Dutch nuclear expansion will depend on stable policy across several governments, a credible public financing model, a suitable site and disciplined project delivery. If those pieces align, nuclear energy could become a larger source of firm low-carbon electricity. If they do not, Borssele may remain the country’s only operating nuclear power plant for much longer than current plans suggest.
