Emissions of air polluting substances according to NEC guide-lines

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NEC sectors Emissions to air Emission to air (million kgs)
Total stationary and mobile sources Ammonia (NH3) 110.6
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 141.2
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 16.2
NMVOC 156.5
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 13.7
06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 1.3
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 1.8
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.0
Industry and waste Ammonia (NH3) 2.7
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 19.9
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 6.6
NMVOC 27.5
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 2.9
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages Ammonia (NH3) 0.4
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 1.3
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.3
NMVOC 6.3
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.3
18 Printing and reproduction Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 0.0
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 1.9
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.0
Chemical and pharmaceutical products Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 0.3
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 1.4
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.2
Waste collection and processing Ammonia (NH3) 1.7
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 3.3
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.3
NMVOC 0.6
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.0
A Agriculture, forestry and fishing Ammonia (NH3) 99.1
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 3.9
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.1
NMVOC 2.3
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.6
Services, water and construction Ammonia (NH3) 0.7
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 2.7
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.1
NMVOC 29.2
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 1.0
Water collection and processing Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 0.2
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 0.0
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.0
Inland shipping Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 20.8
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 4.3
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.9
Inland shipping: passenger transport Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 1.6
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 0.2
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.1
Inland shipping: freight transport Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 16.0
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 2.1
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.5
Inland shipping: recreation Ammonia (NH3) 0.0
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 3.1
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 0.0
NMVOC 2.1
PM2.5 (Particulate matter) 0.2
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


The table contains annual figures on the emissions of a number of air pollutants in the Netherlands as calculated according to the European NEC guidelines.
In 2001, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe drew up a directive on national emission ceilings for cross-border air pollution. The directive is simply called the NEC directive. NEC stands for 'National Emission Ceilings'. Until 2020, the directive determined for each Member State the maximum amount of a number of air pollutants that could be emitted annually. As of 2020, the system of national emission ceilings has been replaced by one of national emission reduction obligations.
The guidelines relate to sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), volatile organic compounds excluding methane (NMVOC) and particulate matter PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres).
The emissions, expressed in kilograms, are broken down by NEC sectors: Energy, Transport, Industry, Agriculture, Waste and Other stationary and mobile sources.

Data available from: 1990.
Due to insufficient data quality, the years 1991 to 1994 and 1996 to 1999 are not shown.

Status of the figures:
The figures from 1990 to 2024 are final, the data of 2025 are provisional.
To ensure a coherent and consistent time series, the complete data set is (re)calculated each year when the final figures are determined, allowing the latest insights to be incorporated into the calculations.

Changes as of 3 September 2026:
Addition of provisional figures 2025.

When will new figures be available?
Final figures for 2025 will be published in February 2027.

Description topics

Emission to air
The emissions of air pollutants in the Netherlands; expressed in kilograms and broken down by NEC sectors.