Just as at European level, agreements have been made at national level to combat climate change. The Dutch government is actively working to promote sustainability in construction, and this is increasingly being influenced by policy on circularity. Below is an overview of key policy topics and areas.

Environmental performance calculation

The Environmental Performance of Buildings (EPB) is an important measure of the sustainability of a construction work.

Environmental Act

The basis for legislation on the physical living environment is laid down in the Environmental Act. This also covers the rules for the built environment. Under this act fall the so-called general administrative orders. One of these four measures concerns the Environmental Buildings Decree (Bbl).

Environmental Buildings Decree (Bbl)

The Environmental Buildings Decree (Bbl)  forms the legal framework for the quality, safety and sustainability of construction works in the Netherlands. This decree sets out the requirements that buildings and construction works must meet. In addition to requirements for safety, health and energy efficiency, the Bbl also sets environmental requirements, including the environmental performance requirement (Article 4.159 of the Bbl). This specifies which EPB requirements apply and designates the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings as the instrument for carrying out the EPB calculation.

The Environmental Regulation (Or)

The Environmental Regulation (Or)  provides the further elaboration of the four measures, including those for the Bbl. It contains the technical details. The Or specifically designates which version of the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings and associated amendments apply for carrying out EPB calculations.

Environmental performance requirement

As of 1 July 2026, new EPB requirements apply to multiple building types:

• Homes: an EPB requirement of 1.6 (recalculated on the basis of the revised Assessment Method, not a tightening of the policy level).
• Offices: a tightened requirement of 1.55.
• Utility buildings: for the first time, EPB requirements apply to buildings such as schools, shops, healthcare facilities and industrial buildings (generally 1.85).
• Small homes and non-compact offices: a more lenient EPB requirement applies to buildings that find it harder to meet the standard requirement due to their construction form.
• Buildings with multiple functions: a weighted EPB requirement applies.

For the full details, see Article 4.159 of the Bbl.

Developments around the EPB requirement

The rules for the environmental performance of buildings are regularly updated to better align with developments in the construction sector and national climate and circularity objectives. In this context, various adjustments to the EPB requirement are being investigated and implemented.

An amendment has been published in the Government Gazette explaining a more lenient application of the EPB requirement. The aim of this amendment is to better align the application of the environmental performance requirement with the practice of design and permitting.

Read the publication in the Government Gazette (2025, 44480)

Amendment to the Bbl and Or

As of 1 July 2026, the Bbl and the Environmental Regulation have been amended. The amendment includes measures for:

• A further tightening of the limit value for the environmental performance of office functions.
• The establishment of limit values for other use functions.

Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings version 2.0

In parallel with these amendments, the new version of the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings (version 2.0) has entered into force as of 1 July 2026. This method was established and published on 19 February 2025. Version 2.0 is based on version 1.2 of January 2025, including amendment 6 and amendment 7.

Download the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings version 2.0

Practical guidance on the environmental performance calculation

For the correct application of the environmental performance calculation, it is important to be clear about which building components are and are not included in the calculation. This is also referred to as the demarcation of building components.

To support users, various information sheets are available providing practical guidance. These information sheets include:

• Explanation of the demarcation of building components
• Practical examples from design and construction practice
• Explanation of how components are correctly included in an environmental performance calculation

These documents help designers, advisors and permit-granting authorities in correctly applying the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings.

Go to IPLO for practical guidance on the environmental performance calculation

Role of Stichting Nationale Milieudatabase

Stichting NMD is the platform for the entire construction sector when it comes to making the environmental impact of this sector transparent (civil engineering and buildings sector). The Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings and the associated databases form the instrument to achieve this.

Relevant initiatives and programmes

In addition to national frameworks and policy, there are also initiatives from the sector, trade associations and networks that contribute to the transition towards a circular construction economy.

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