Vitens at a Glance

Every drop of water that flows through our pipes represents more than just water. It is about health, reliability, and our public responsibility. Drinking water is not something to be taken for granted. As CEO, I see it as our responsibility not only to supply drinking water today, but also to safeguard the drinking water supply for the generations that follow: drinking water for now and for the future. And that calls for skill, collaboration, and vision.

Investing in drinking water for now and later
We are makers of drinking water. And in challenging times, we see it as our craft to ensure drinking water flows from the tap. In 2025, we recalibrated our course: producing and supplying drinking water remains at the heart of what we do. We cannot do that alone. A faster water transition is needed, and this is a shared responsibility – not least because pressure on space in the Netherlands is high. Together with government bodies in their roles as shareholders, policymakers, and water managers, and with Vitens, we must build connections, align interests, and work towards a robust and sustainably designed water system. Only then can we manage drinking water congestion and keep the Netherlands running. All parties involved in the water sector must support one another, seek connection, and work together. The real challenges lie in the feasibility of projects and in the societal dynamics surrounding them, including the granting of adequate permits and provincial drinking water strategies. In this way, we all make our own contribution to the availability of drinking water from source to tap, as a diverse and interconnected ecosystem.

Boiling advice
In 2025, we had to issue three major boil‑water advisories, in Goor, Utrecht, and Amersfoort. This has an impact on our customers, and I am fully aware of that. At the same time, this confirms to me that our operations are working: we detected the minor contaminations in time and acted on them as agreed. After issuing the boil‑water advisories, we also asked our customers how they rate our work. Customer appreciation is high, and we use their feedback to keep improving continuously.

Smart organisation to deliver
Of course, there are also things that keep me awake at night. We must therefore adjust our investment and delivery agenda. We are not succeeding in what we want to achieve – building towards ultimately supplying more drinking water from the tap. This is due, for example, to a shortage of labour and limited scope for permits. To strengthen our position in a changing world, including the evolving contractors’ market, we need to further reinforce and professionalise our organisational capabilities. So that we continue to make progress in scaling up our investments. Because investment projects cannot yet be carried out, our tariff has increased only minimally compared with previous years. All this while the challenges are significant, and we must invest in the future: in a flexible, resilient, and sustainable drinking water system, while keeping our tariff affordable.

Producing drinking water is a craft
Finally, a word of appreciation for all my colleagues. Thanks to these Vitens colleagues, who understand their craft, you can turn on the tap every day without a moment’s worry and enjoy our clean, safe, and great-tasting drinking water. It is also the dedication and commitment of my colleagues that enables us to meet these challenges. Together, we safeguard your drinking water, now and in the future!

Tjeerd Roozendaal
Chair of the Executive Board