Environmental goods and services sector, activities; national accounts

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Environmental activities Periods Labour input of employed persons (1 000 years of employment) Output at basic prices (mln euros) Gross value added at basic prices (mln euros)
Total sector environment 2001* 120.1 18,493 8,146
2005* 111.9 21,080 9,375
2010* 130.3 28,262 12,748
2015* 127.0 35,954 15,241
2016* 141.3 38,296 16,706
2017* 147.8 41,550 17,901
2018* 157.7 45,224 19,128
2019* 167.5 49,140 20,970
Environmental engineering activities. 2001* 4.7 909 373
2005* 3.9 821 311
2010* 4.4 1,222 364
2015* 5.7 1,449 476
2016* 6.0 1,511 401
2017* 6.3 1,947 533
2018* 6.4 1,983 550
2019* 6.3 2,203 608
Environmental consultancy, engineering 2001* 13.2 1,840 734
2005* 13.9 2,111 821
2010* 17.6 3,131 1,479
2015* 15.5 3,301 1,472
2016* 21.9 4,812 2,146
2017* 22.7 5,194 2,244
2018* 24.6 5,961 2,448
2019* 25.8 6,534 2,758
Environmental inspection, certification 2001* 0.8 117 72
2005* 1.4 248 164
2010* 2.2 344 225
2015* 2.4 329 190
2016* 2.5 348 198
2017* 3.3 467 264
2018* 3.4 486 278
2019* 3.3 497 286
Ideological environmental organisations 2001* 0.0 1 0
2005* 0.0 1 0
2010* 3.2 955 335
2015* 3.3 1,275 422
2016* 2.5 1,015 359
2017* 2.7 1,088 370
2018* 2.7 1,189 393
2019* 2.8 1,221 428
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table presents economic data for the environmental goods and services sector by activity. It contains data on labour volume, output, gross value added and export of the environmental goods and services sector. Output, gross value added and export are measured in basic prices and labour volume is measured in full time equivalents (fte). The environmental activities are assigned to an environmental domain (environmental protection and/or management of natural resources).

The economic data are presented in the following quantities:
-Labour volume, 1000 fte
-Output at basic prices, mln Euro
-Gross value added at basic prices, mln Euro
-Export at basic prices, mln Euro

The environmental goods and services sector consists of companies and institutions that are involved in activities with respect to measuring, preventing, limiting, minimalizing or correcting environmental damage to water, air and soil as well as problems related to waste, noise and ecosystems (OECD, 1999; Eurostat 2009). This definition includes 'cleaner technologies 'and 'cleaner goods and services' which reduce environmental risk and minimize the use of natural resources and pollution. The definition of the environmental goods and services sector is determined on European level and it is used by EU-countries accordingly.

The environmental goods and services sector is part of de Dutch system of environmental accounts, which brings together economic and environmental information in a common framework. The Dutch environmental accounts are compiled following the general concepts, definitions and classifications as described in SEEA 2012 and the 2008 SNA. As it is in line with de definitions and classifications of the national accounts system, there exists a small difference between environmental accounts and environmental statistics. More information on the methodology can be found elsewhere on the website of CBS.

Data available from: 2001

Status of the figures:
Provisional figures.

Changes as of 1 April 2026:
Years 2022, 2023 and 2024 have been added. Figures for previous years have been adjusted as a result of revisions and different methods for export figures. Some components have undergone a methodological update, and some components have been placed within other environmental activities.

When will new figures be published?
New provisional figures will be published in the first quarter of 2027.

Description topics

Labour input of employed persons
The input of labour that is deployed in a certain period. The labour input can be expressed as jobs, years of employment and hours of employment.
Employed persons are all individuals working at a company that is settled in The Netherlands or at a private household in The Netherlands.
Employed persons are considered all individuals performing paid labour, even if it is for just one or a few hour a week, even if they:
- perform labour that is legal, but which from the payment is withdrawn from registration by the treasury and social security authorities ('black labour');
- do not perform any labour temporary, but still get payment (e.g. in case of illness or hold-ups due to frost);
- are on holiday temporary, without payment.
Employed persons can be categorised in employees and freelancers.
Employees are individuals performing labour for a certain period, in return of payment or salary, in money or in kind.
Freelancers are individuals receiving income by performing labour at their own expenses and risk, for the company or profession they practise independently. Participating members of the family are also considered freelancers, unless they start an employment contract.
Output at basic prices
Output (basic prices) covers the value of all goods produced for sale, including unsold goods, and all receipts for services rendered. Output furthermore covers the market equivalent of goods and services produced for own use, such as own account capital formation, services of owner-occupied dwellings and agricultural products produced by farmers for own consumption.
The output of such goods is estimated by valuing the quantities produced against the price that the producer would have received if these goods had been sold. Output is valued at basic prices, defined as the price received by the producer excluding trade and transport margins and the balance of taxes and subsidies on products. This is the price the producer is ultimately left with.
Gross value added at basic prices
Value added at basic prices is equal to the difference between production (basic prices) and intermediate consumption.