Despite the fact that gas reserves are running low and there are viable alternative energy sources available, a study by environmental group Natuur & Milieu reveals that 64% of all new housing units are being fitted for gas.

The research is based on concrete plans for 150,000 new housing units to be built between 2017 and 2021.

Only 12% are certain to be heated by sustainable means of energy, but another 24% will be connected to district heating in which sustainable energy sources vary.

‘This is a very undesirable development. While all Dutch housing must be weaned away from gas as a heat source as soon as possible, builders are continuing with gas connections,’ said group spokesman Talitha Koek

‘It costs an annual €100m to build new gas networks, and they have a lifetime of 40 years. But it is money thrown away if the country has to be heated by other means. It would be better to spend the money on all-electric housing,’ Koek said.

Under terms of the Paris climate accord, the Netherlands can have only one million home heating connections to gas in 2035. The environmental group reckons there are seven million such connections at present.

Last year, Amsterdam city council has published a plan to rid the city of gas-fired cooking and central heating by 2050.