The position of the Netherlands in the international market for natural gas and with regard to the EU is very interesting indeed. In this thesis I looked at the actual market position and the political position that the Netherlands successively has or promotes, and (realistic) future prospects for the Netherlands. I compared this with the policy goals of the EU. From this, I try to derive what the Dutch interests roughly are with regard to the establishment of a coherent common EU energy policy. For instance, to what extend should the Netherlands be in favour of a strong EU energy policy that regulates both internal and external energy affairs?