What does sewer unblocking (emergency) cost in 2026?

An average blockage costs € 95 to € 250: a toilet € 95-195, a sink or shower drain € 95-225 and an emergency sewer blockage € 125-350. Drain companies charge € 100 to € 175 per hour, but many jobs are done at a fixed price per blockage: ask upfront which of the two applies.

In the evening, at night and during weekends an emergency surcharge of 150-200% of the normal hourly rate applies. On the phone, always ask for the hourly rate, call-out costs and surcharge before the technician sets off: a reliable company quotes those figures without hesitation.

For genuine emergencies (sewage rising, toilet and drains completely blocked) your request gets priority and a technician is often at your door the same day. For regular jobs, such as a slow drain, professionals respond as soon as possible with a price indication.

With one blocked drain: yes. An ordinary plunger clears many toilet and sink blockages, and anyone can unscrew and empty the trap. Baking soda with vinegar mainly helps against smells and grease film, rarely against a real clog. Do not use chemical drain cleaner: it rarely clears standing water and makes the work dangerous for the technician. If several drains act up at once or water rises, skip the DIY.

Yes. Submitting a request costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You receive up to 3 responses from companies in your region and choose yourself — or choose no one, that's fine too. Prices and payment are arranged directly with the drain company.

Yes. We verify Chamber of Commerce registration and business liability insurance before a company receives requests. Companies with recurring complaints are removed from the platform.

Minor blockages you can fix yourself (trap, floor drain) are the tenant's responsibility under Dutch law. Blockages in the soil stack, main line or sewer are the landlord's — unless the tenant demonstrably caused them. Always report the defect to your landlord in writing first.

The property boundary is the dividing line: the drainage on your own land belongs to the owner, the main sewer under the street to the municipality. If the blockage sits beyond the boundary, call the municipality — it generally fixes main-sewer faults free of charge. In case of doubt, a camera inspection establishes which side of the line the problem is on.

Many affiliated companies give a flow guarantee: if the same blockage returns within the guarantee period, they come back free of charge. The period differs per company and the guarantee does not cover the underlying cause, such as root ingrowth or a subsided pipe. So ask upfront what the guarantee covers exactly.

No grease, oil or coffee grounds down the sink, wet wipes in the bin (including the 'flushable' ones), a hair strainer on the shower drain and keeping the downpipe leaf-free in autumn. With an older sewer or many trees around the house, periodic preventive jetting (€ 95-175 per service) prevents most emergency jobs.

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