Patio heating without gas
Gas heaters on terraces are under fire. What are the rules, and how do you keep your guests warm without gas?
Why municipalities are restricting gas heaters
A gas heater heats the outside air. Much of that heat blows away before a guest notices it. Municipalities regard this as waste and as unnecessary emissions. That is why more and more municipalities restrict gas-fired patio heating.
- Eindhoven has banned gas-fired patio heating since 1 November 2024. The period in which businesses could apply for a postponement has expired.
- Groningen announced a ban on patio heaters in 2023.
- Haarlem and Leiden subsidised sustainable patio heating, and other cities have also looked into a ban.
- The Brussels-Capital Region bans gas heaters on terraces.
There is no national ban. What is allowed on your terrace is set out in the terrace rules or the local bylaws (APV) of your municipality.
The alternatives at a glance
Electric heater
An infrared heater works without gas, but needs a power connection on the terrace and still heats from above. In the wind, the guest feels less of the warmth.
Blankets
Cheap, but they need washing after every use, and many guests leave them unused.
Heated seat cushions
The cushion heats the seat and the back, so the warmth reaches the guest directly. A wireless battery gives up to 8 hours of warmth. No gas, no cables, and every guest sets how warm they want to be.
Heated seat cushion or patio heater
| Heated seat cushion | Gas or patio heater | |
|---|---|---|
| What is heated? | The guest: seat and back | The air above and around the table |
| Gas or installation needed? | No, wireless battery | Gas bottle or gas connection, or a power connection |
| Effect of wind | Warmth stays with the body | Warm air blows away |
| Adjustable per guest | Yes, every guest chooses their own setting | No, one heater for several tables |
| Municipal rules | No gas rules apply | Increasingly restricted or banned |
| Investment | From € 5 per cushion per month | Purchase, gas bottles and maintenance |
Switch without risk
Test heated cushions free of charge for a month alongside your current heaters. Then you decide.
Sources: terrace rules of the municipality of Eindhoven (ondernemendeindhoven.nl), RTV Noord (2023), KHN, VRT NWS. Always check the current rules of your own municipality.