The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €100 million loan for Dutch water utility PWN to support the modernisation and expansion of drinking water infrastructure in the province of North Holland. The financing, backed by the European Commission’s InvestEU programme, will help implement PWN’s investment programme for the 2026–2029 period.
The planned works are intended to strengthen the reliability of drinking water services while increasing the network’s capacity to meet future demand and improve resilience to the impacts of climate change. The investment programme includes the replacement, renovation and installation of approximately 750 kilometres of water pipelines, together with upgrades to service connections and water meters. Once completed, the expanded network is expected to accommodate around 35,000 new drinking water connections.
The agreement marks the fifth financing operation between the EIB and PWN. According to the institutions, the project contributes to the Netherlands’ climate objectives by supporting infrastructure that helps secure a reliable supply of safe drinking water in the years ahead.
PWN supplies around 112 billion litres of drinking water each year to more than 800,000 households, businesses and public institutions across North Holland. The company operates four drinking water production facilities located in Andijk, Bergen, Wijk aan Zee and Laren.
In addition to its role as a drinking water utility, PWN is responsible for managing more than 7,500 hectares of protected coastal dune landscapes, including the Kennemerduinen and Noordhollands Duinreservaat nature reserves. These areas receive approximately eight million visitors annually and play an important role in protecting freshwater resources and natural ecosystems.
The investment also aligns with PWN’s long-term sustainability strategy, under which the utility aims to become a carbon-neutral and circular organisation by 2050 while reducing its CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030.
