ROTTERDAM, 3 December 2025 – Energy helpers from across the Netherlands have been thanked in Rotterdam during the national start of the ‘Geef Je Warmte Door Dagen’. Milieu Centraal used the gathering at Oase to launch the new Energiehulpnetwerk map and to call for more residents to become energy helpers this winter.
National start of ‘geef je warmte door dagen’ in rotterdam
At cultural venue Oase Rotterdam, Milieu Centraal marked the national launch of the ‘Geef Je Warmte Door Dagen’ (Pass On Your Warmth) with a meeting for the first group of energy helpers from the Energiehulpnetwerk (Energy support network). More than 1,100 volunteers and professionals, described as the quiet forces behind the work, were thanked for helping households get a better grip on their energy bills.
During the event, Milieu Centraal also unveiled the new Energiehulpnetwerk map (Energiehulpnetwerkkaart), which shows where residents can find advice and support. The aim is to make existing help easier to locate and to underline that people who are struggling with energy costs do not have to search on their own.
The launch included a small ceremony around an artwork with LED lights. Chris Kuipers, Secretary-General at the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, Milieu Centraal director Ika van de Pas, energy coach Amani Abt Alhakk from Energiebank regio Arnhem and moderator Jörgen Raymann placed their hands on the installation, switching on lights that symbolise energy help organisations, municipalities and referral networks across the country. The gesture was intended as a visual sign that support is both available and accessible.
Milieu Centraal hopes that more people will sign up as energy helpers (energiehelpers), so that fewer households are left without guidance in the coming months. Information about the network and the map can be found at www.energiehulpnetwerk.nl/kaart.
450,000 households in energy poverty
According to research institute TNO, around 450,000 households in the Netherlands are currently living in energy poverty (energiearmoede), an increase of approximately 50,000 households compared with 2023. Energy helpers offer practical support, from simple saving tips and small measures such as draught strips and LED bulbs to referrals towards local schemes and financial assistance.
Their role is seen as crucial in preventing people from having to choose between heating and other basic expenses. To recognise this work, the energy helpers present in Rotterdam received a small pin as a sign of appreciation during the first ‘Geef Je Warmte Door Dag’.
Milieu Centraal director-chair Ika van de Pas said it meant a lot to see so many energy helpers together. “It was special to thank so many energy helpers in person today,” she said. “Their effort shows how solidarity works: together we can help prevent anyone from sitting in the cold this winter. The energy and commitment I have seen here gives me confidence that we can reach even more people with the Energiehulpnetwerk and the new map.”
The first appreciation day in Rotterdam is the start of a series. During the rest of the heating season, local ‘Geef Je Warmte Door Dagen’ will follow in other cities, including Eindhoven on 10 December, Tiel on 16 January and Groningen on 17 January. Several municipalities are also planning their own ways to highlight the work of their energy helpers.
Trusted circle approach reaches more households
Through the Energiehulpnetwerk, Milieu Centraal is paying extra attention to tenants and residents with a migration background. The organisation works with a ‘trusted circle’ approach (‘vertrouwde kring’-aanpak), partnering with people who are already close to local communities, such as community centre volunteers, sports coaches, and familiar faces in mosques or churches.
This method is intended to match advice more closely to people’s daily routines, energy use and cultural values. Standard tips, such as setting the thermostat to a specific temperature or limiting showers to five minutes, do not always fit different household situations, so the network looks for ways to adapt guidance in conversation with residents.
The Energiehulpnetwerk was launched a year ago and early experience suggests that the trusted circle approach is helping to open doors that previously stayed closed. When people receive information from someone they already know, they are often more willing to talk about their situation and to accept help.
As a result, energy help is reaching more of the households that need it most, including people who might be hesitant to contact official bodies. The network also helps to connect local initiatives with each other, so knowledge and experience can be shared across cities and regions.
Map shows where energy help can be found
On the new Energiehulpnetwerk map, visitors can see an overview of energy help organisations, municipal schemes and the wider referral network, with the trusted circle playing a central role. The map is designed to show how support flows through community contacts towards households, rather than stopping at official desks.
By making this information available in one place, Milieu Centraal aims to make energy help more visible and easier to access. Residents can look up where to go in their own area, and professionals can see which partners are active nearby, so they know where to refer people who are struggling with their bills.
Call to become an energy helper
With the latest TNO figures showing an increase in energy poverty, Milieu Centraal is calling on more people to join as energy helpers and to connect with the Energiehulpnetwerk. Volunteers and professionals in community centres, sports clubs, churches and mosques are seen as especially important, because they are already in touch with people who may not seek help elsewhere.
The message is that no single person or organisation can support everyone, yet each person can assist at least one neighbour, member or visitor. Milieu Centraal, which has more than 25 years of experience as an independent knowledge centre for sustainable living, provides reliable information and practical tools that energy helpers can use in their own setting. More details are available on milieucentraal.nl.
