Improving your energy label saves money, increases your home's value, and contributes to climate goals. In the Netherlands, there are three main options to make sustainability affordable:
- ISDE scheme: Up to 30% subsidy for combined measures (such as insulation and heat pumps). Budget 2025: €600 million.
- Municipal grants: Additional local support, depending on your municipality. For example, up to €7,000 in Hilversum for low-income households.
- Bricknest renovations: Complete guidance for sustainability, starting from €6,000. Includes assistance with grant applications and quality control.
Quick comparison? See an overview of the options below:
| Option | Subsidy Amount | Conditions | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISDE scheme | Up to 30% of the costs | Combine at least two measures | Large renovations |
| Municipal grant | Varies per municipality | Specific local rules and budgets | Small improvements |
| Bricknest renovations | No direct subsidy | Full project guidance | Complete renovations |
Start with an energy assessment and combine grants for maximum savings. Discover more at verbeterjehuis.nl.
1. ISDE scheme
The ISDE scheme (Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy) is the national subsidy for homeowners who want to make their homes more energy-efficient. This scheme runs until 2030 and has a budget of €600 million for 2025. With this subsidy, you can get back part of the costs for sustainable installations and insulation measures.
Here you can find out what the conditions are and which measures are eligible.
For whom and for what?
The ISDE subsidy is intended for private homeowners who occupy their own home. Your home must have been built before January 1, 2019, or have a building permit applied for before July 1, 2018. This means that almost all existing homes in the Netherlands are eligible.
With the subsidy, you can receive compensation for various energy-saving measures such as:
- Heat pumps
- Solar water heaters
- Various insulation measures
- Connection to a heating network
- Electric cooking facilities
Important: you must apply for the subsidy before purchasing the installation or work. After completing the measures, you have 24 months to submit your application to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Check in advance whether the chosen measure is on the official code list. This code must also be listed on your quote and invoice.
How much can you save?
The ISDE scheme offers an attractive financial contribution, especially if you combine several measures. If you choose one measure, you get 15% of the costs back. If you combine at least two measures, this percentage rises to 30%. This makes it extra attractive to thoroughly make your home sustainable in one go.
The exact subsidy amount depends on the measure and the expected energy savings. For example, a heat pump usually provides more subsidy than cavity wall insulation because the energy savings are greater. By combining insulation with a heat pump, you often get the most out of your investment and the subsidy.
"The vast majority of homeowners in the Netherlands have enough savings or could take out a loan to make their home more climate-friendly." - De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)
Research by DNB shows that 95% of homeowners in the Netherlands can financially make the switch to a better energy label and a heat pump. Of these, 66% have enough savings, 29% can take out a loan within lending norms, and 3% qualify for an Energy Savings Loan through the National Heat Fund.
Application and implementation
Applying for the ISDE subsidy requires good preparation. Check in advance whether your chosen measures and contractor meet the conditions. Keep all quotes, invoices, and other proofs safe.
The application is fully digital via the RVO website. You have a maximum of 24 months after completion of the work to submit your application. Also, ensure that the installations are put into use within 24 months of approval.
Need help with the process? Bricknest offers support in choosing measures and applying for the subsidy. With their digital platform, you can easily track progress and ensure you have all the required documentation in order.
2. Municipal subsidies
In addition to the national ISDE scheme, many municipalities offer additional subsidies to stimulate sustainability. These local schemes can lead to considerable extra savings but vary greatly by municipality. It's therefore smart to check what your municipality specifically offers.
Conditions and possibilities
Municipal subsidies often focus on specific target groups and measures. Take, for example, Amsterdam: here you can as a private homeowner, VvE, small landlord, or tenant take out an energy loan with attractive interest rates. These loans range from €2,500 to €15,000 per home and are used for measures such as solar panels, insulation, and facade work. Amsterdam has already provided millions of euros in energy loans.
In Hilversum, the focus is on households with lower incomes. If you were entitled to the energy allowance in 2022, 2023, or 2024, you can apply for a subsidy of up to €7,000 for sustainability. A condition is that your home was built before 2010 and is insufficiently insulated.
In addition, many municipalities offer extra support through energy coaches and energy counters. These services provide advice on energy-saving measures and help determine what is feasible in your situation.
Costs and benefits
How interesting municipal subsidies are depends on your personal situation and income. For low-income households, these schemes can make a big difference. In Hilversum, the subsidy of €7,000 can, for example, cover a significant part of the costs for insulation measures such as cavity wall or roof insulation.
For larger sustainability projects, Amsterdam offers loans through the Sustainability Fund ranging from €10,000 to more than €500,000. This makes it possible for companies, VvE's, and other organizations to tackle large-scale projects, such as making an apartment complex more sustainable.
Application and support
The accessibility of municipal subsidies varies by municipality. Some municipalities make the process easier by, for example, involving energy handymen. These experts can provide advice and support with the application. Such help can give you the extra push to actually get started.
Municipalities usually publish their grant schemes online. You often can contact your municipality's information line for more information. It's wise to inform yourself well before making plans, as grants and budgets can change.
Bricknest is ready to help you find both national and municipal subsidization opportunities and guides you through the application process.
Although municipalities play an important role in the energy transition, they often face limited financial resources. This explains why many municipalities are cautious with grants or work with small budgets. Still, these local schemes are a valuable addition to national grants and can make sustainability accessible to a wider audience.
3. Bricknest Renovation Services
Bricknest fully renovates homes and improves energy labels. As an expert in home renovations in the Netherlands, Bricknest helps homeowners implement energy-saving measures that directly contribute to a better energy label. During a free online consultation, they discuss not only your renovation plans but also which grants, both national and local, are available for your project. Below you will find more information about the costs, efficiency, and how Bricknest simplifies the renovation process.
Eligibility and possibilities
Bricknest focuses on renovations that directly improve the energy label. Whether it is a single room (starting from €6,000) or a complete home renovation (starting from €15,000), Bricknest offers customized solutions depending on the project's scope.
The services include energy-saving measures such as:
- Insulation work
- Window replacement
- Installation of underfloor heating
- Smart heating systems
Bricknest only works with experienced contractors specialized in sustainability. They ensure that all work meets the requirements for energy label improvement.
Transparent cost structure
Bricknest offers a clear quote with a detailed breakdown of task descriptions, material costs, labor costs, and any design costs. This makes it easier to determine which measures provide the most return for your energy label improvement.
For larger projects, such as a 4-bedroom apartment (starting from €42,000), Bricknest advises on the most efficient combination of measures. By making smart choices, you can advance your energy label more steps at lower costs.
To provide extra security, Bricknest offers insurance coverage up to €500,000 and a 1-year warranty on all work. So, you can be sure your investment is well protected.
Ease of execution
Bricknest combines competitive prices with a streamlined execution. Thanks to their innovative digital platform, you can track your project's progress in real-time through a dashboard, from the initial cost estimate to completion.
During the free online consultation, Bricknest identifies possible improvement points, schedules the work, and conducts quality checks. They consider your budget and preferences and advise on the best approach to improve your energy label.
The big advantage? You don't have to find or coordinate contractors yourself. Bricknest handles the entire planning, from material procurement to execution. Additionally, they conduct independent quality inspections, ensuring everything is handled professionally.
With Bricknest, your project is carefully managed from start to finish, without needing to manage all the technical details yourself. Quality is central at every step of the process.
Advantages and disadvantages
Each grant scheme and renovation approach has specific pros and cons. Therefore, it's important to carefully consider the different options before deciding on improving your energy label. Below, we discuss the key points of the ISDE scheme, municipal subsidies, and Bricknest's renovation services.
ISDE scheme: Financial support with clear conditions
The ISDE scheme provides significant financial support, with a budget of €600 million for 2025. A big advantage is that this scheme can be combined with municipal grants, significantly increasing the financial benefit. Moreover, the scheme runs until 2030, providing certainty for future plans. If you choose multiple measures within 24 months, you receive double subsidy for insulation, such as €222 per m² for triple glazing.
A drawback, however, is that you have to pay the costs upfront; the subsidy is only paid afterward. There are also strict conditions: only heat pumps with energy label A++ or higher are eligible, and all work must be carried out by recognized professionals.
Municipal subsidies: Accessible, but limited in scale
Municipal subsidies, such as the SPUK grant focusing on households in energy poverty, are often directly available without requiring large pre-investments. The budget is distributed by municipalities based on the number of eligible households, ensuring targeted help.
The downside is that municipal grants usually are limited to smaller measures. For larger renovations, additional financing is often necessary.
Bricknest: All-in-one renovation service
Bricknest offers a complete renovation service, with prices ranging from €6,000 for a single room to €42,000 for a four-bedroom apartment. The biggest advantage is complete relief: from finding contractors and arranging VvE approvals to quality controls. Additionally, Bricknest provides extra security with insurance coverage up to €500,000 and a one-year warranty. They also assist in finding grants, which can reduce final costs.
Overview of the options
| Aspect | ISDE scheme | Municipal subsidies | Bricknest renovations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget 2025 | €600 million | Varies per municipality | Own costs |
| Subsidy amount | Up to €3,775 for heating network | Limited to small measures | Support with applications |
| Combining | Yes, with local schemes | Yes, with the ISDE scheme | Supports all options |
| Expertise | Installation by recognized professional | Depends on the measure | Fully managed |
| Suitable for | Large energy-saving measures | Small improvements | Complete renovations |
| Risk | Administrative complexity | Limited impact | Minimal through professional guidance |
The best choice depends on your budget, the scope of the renovation, and how much you want to arrange yourself. For example, you can use the ISDE scheme for large measures, municipal grants for smaller improvements, and consider Bricknest's renovation services for full guidance. This way, you can choose an approach that perfectly suits your situation.
Conclusion
Improving your energy label in the Netherlands is not only good for the environment but also for your wallet. Thanks to the ISDE scheme, which provides €600 million in 2025, homeowners can count on significant financial support. This scheme forms a solid foundation for further steps towards sustainability.
A house with an energy label E, F, or G can significantly limit your financial options. For example, your lending capacity can decrease by €5,500 to €30,000, depending on your income. But by improving your energy label to A or B, you can benefit from a higher mortgage and borrow up to €20,000 extra for sustainability measures. And it's not just financial benefits: an upgrade from a G-label to a B-label can save you more than 190 kWh per square meter per year on energy.
Bricknest makes the process easy by completely unburdening homeowners from renovations. Whether for projects of €6,000 or €42,000, they take care of everything: from execution to grant applications and obtaining the correct approvals.
"For each home, just fifteen square meters of exterior-wall collectors are needed, located on the façades and rear walls. And in fact, we have not even fully insulated the homes in question." - Bart Erich, Senior Researcher at TNO
An efficient approach starts with requesting an energy performance report (EPA) from a certified advisor. Then, you can check which grants are available via verbeterjehuis.nl. Combine the ISDE scheme with potential municipal grants for maximum financial benefits.
A better energy label not only means higher property value but also more living comfort and lower energy costs. With the right grants and professional guidance, making your home more sustainable becomes a lot easier and more affordable.
FAQs
Which energy-saving measures are best suited for my home?
To find out which energy-saving measures are best suited for your home, it's useful to have an energy audit conducted first. Such an audit identifies where your home is losing energy. Think, for example, of poorly insulated walls, roofs, or floors, or a heating system that is outdated.
Popular options for saving energy include insulation of walls, roofs, or floors, and installing energy-efficient systems such as heat pumps or solar panels. These adjustments can not only improve your energy label but also reduce monthly energy costs.
Be sure to check if there are grants available for the measures you are considering. This can compensate for a large part of the costs and make it easier to make sustainable choices.
How do I apply for an ISDE subsidy and what should I watch out for?
How to apply for an ISDE subsidy?
Applying for an ISDE subsidy can go smoothly if you know which steps to take. Follow this guide to ensure you don't miss anything:
- Check the conditions: Ensure you meet all the requirements. For example, you must be both the owner and occupant of the home. Only pre-approved measures are eligible for a subsidy.
- Choose your sustainability measures: Consider solutions such as a heat pump, solar water heater, or insulation. Ensure that the devices and materials you choose meet the requirements and are on the approved list.
- Prepare your documents: Ensure you have an invoice and the code of the completed work. These are essential to complete your application.
- Submit your application: Log in with your DigiD on the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) website and submit your subsidy application.
If everything is in order, you will receive the subsidy amount that matches the measures you have taken after approval. An error-free and complete application prevents delays in processing.
What are the benefits of hiring Bricknest for energy-saving renovations?
Bricknest completely takes the worries out of energy-saving renovations. They manage the entire process from start to finish, with a keen eye for detail and a focus on quality. Thanks to their experienced project management and independent quality control, your renovation runs smoothly and without unexpected obstacles or extra costs.
Not only do you save time, but also a lot of stress. Everything is arranged: from making a cost estimate and purchasing materials to execution and aftercare. The result? A home that is more sustainable and better, while you can focus on the things that really matter to you.
