CONFIDENCE II: NEW HEAT LAW = NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The Netherlands is entering a new era for district heating. With the introduction of the Wet collectieve warmte (Collective Heat Act), municipalities have been assigned a central coordinating role in local heat planning—granting them authority to designate heat zones, select operators, and drive the transition from natural gas to sustainable collective heat systems. This landmark legislation, combined with growing market momentum and emerging district heating companies across the country, creates unprecedented opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and investment in Dutch district heating.

The CONFIDENCE II project builds on this momentum and on last year’s success. It brings together leading experts, municipalities, and companies from the Netherlands, Denmark, and across Europe to accelerate the Dutch heat transition through shared knowledge, proven approaches, and new partnerships. At its core, the project supports Dutch municipalities—especially the pioneering municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân (SWF)—with expertise and sparring from Danish and Dutch specialists in heat planning and district heating development.

Building on the success of Confidence’25

Confidence II continues a trajectory of tangible results. At Confidence’25, held in April 2025 at the Martinikerk in Sneek, over 200 participants from the Netherlands, Denmark, Scotland, Belgium, and Germany came together to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation on district heating development.

The event produced a landmark outcome: the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân took the historic step of establishing its own district heating company—a direct result of the international collaboration facilitated through the Confidence platform. The conference also yielded a set of key recommendations for municipalities embarking on the heat transition, covering topics from public ownership and trust-building to phased development and future-proof system design.

Read the full Confidence’25 report 

Momentum in the Dutch District Heating Market

The Dutch heat transition is gaining strong momentum. The new Wet collectieve warmte fundamentally reshapes the playing field: municipalities now have the legal mandate to designate district heating zones and coordinate the transition away from natural gas. This creates a clear framework for investment and development, attracting new district heating companies and encouraging existing utilities to expand their networks.

Friesland has been at the forefront of this movement, adopting elements of the Danish district heating model and opening the door to new partnerships that support long-term sustainable heating. Confidence II builds on this development by bringing together the knowledge, experience, and collaborative energy needed to turn the new legislative framework into real-world district heating projects.

From knowledge sharing to practical implementation

Confidence II offers a dynamic mix of lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities with municipal leaders, utilities, policymakers, consultants, and suppliers. Its focus is on sharing operational knowledge, proven approaches, and real-world experience needed to design, build, and operate modern district heating systems—supporting Dutch municipalities as they take on a growing role in the heat transition.

Who should be interested?

Confidence II is designed for everyone involved in bringing district heating to life:

• Municipal leaders and local officials responsible for heat planning
• National officials, authorities, and policymakers shaping the heat transition
• District heating companies—both established and newly emerging
• Leading Danish and Dutch consultants in heat planning and DH design
• Suppliers: planners, pipe manufacturers, pump specialists, and production technology providers

In other words, everybody needed to design, build, and operate a district heating system.

A collaborative platform for scalable heat solutions

Confidence stands as an international collaboration platform connecting Dutch municipalities, Danish partners, and European experts. Its mission is to accelerate district heating development through shared expertise, innovation, and scalable, sustainable solutions.