diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/__init__.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/__init__.py
index c3d03cb5d..2626c24a0 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/__init__.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/__init__.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from .dev import ValgrindDependency, gmock_factory, gtest_factory, llvm_factory
 from .coarrays import CoarrayDependency
 from .mpi import MPIDependency
 from .scalapack import ScalapackDependency
-from .misc import (BlocksDependency, CursesDependency, NetCDFDependency, OpenMPDependency, ThreadDependency, cups_factory, gpgme_factory, libgcrypt_factory, libwmf_factory, pcap_factory, python3_factory, shaderc_factory)
+from .misc import (BlocksDependency, CursesDependency, OpenMPDependency, ThreadDependency, cups_factory, gpgme_factory, libgcrypt_factory, libwmf_factory, netcdf_factory, pcap_factory, python3_factory, shaderc_factory)
 from .platform import AppleFrameworks
 from .ui import GnuStepDependency, Qt4Dependency, Qt5Dependency, WxDependency, gl_factory, sdl2_factory, vulkan_factory
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ packages.update({
     # From misc:
     'blocks': BlocksDependency,
     'curses': CursesDependency,
-    'netcdf': NetCDFDependency,
+    'netcdf': netcdf_factory,
     'openmp': OpenMPDependency,
     'python3': python3_factory,
     'threads': ThreadDependency,
diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
index c979005e6..6a05ef17b 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
@@ -36,51 +36,27 @@ if T.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .base import DependencyType  # noqa: F401
 
 
-class NetCDFDependency(ExternalDependency):
+@factory_methods({DependencyMethods.PKGCONFIG, DependencyMethods.CMAKE})
+def netcdf_factory(env: 'Environment', for_machine: 'MachineChoice',
+                   kwargs: T.Dict[str, T.Any], methods: T.List[DependencyMethods]) -> T.List['DependencyType']:
+    language = kwargs.get('language', 'c')
+    if language not in ('c', 'cpp', 'fortran'):
+        raise DependencyException('Language {} is not supported with NetCDF.'.format(language))
 
-    def __init__(self, environment, kwargs):
-        language = kwargs.get('language', 'c')
-        super().__init__('netcdf', environment, kwargs, language=language)
-        kwargs['required'] = False
-        kwargs['silent'] = True
-        self.is_found = False
-        methods = listify(self.methods)
-
-        if language not in ('c', 'cpp', 'fortran'):
-            raise DependencyException('Language {} is not supported with NetCDF.'.format(language))
-
-        if set([DependencyMethods.AUTO, DependencyMethods.PKGCONFIG]).intersection(methods):
-            pkgconfig_files = ['netcdf']
+    candidates = []  # type: T.List['DependencyType']
 
-            if language == 'fortran':
-                pkgconfig_files.append('netcdf-fortran')
+    if DependencyMethods.PKGCONFIG in methods:
+        pkgconfig_files = ['netcdf']
+        if language == 'fortran':
+            pkgconfig_files.append('netcdf-fortran')
 
-            self.compile_args = []
-            self.link_args = []
-            self.pcdep = []
-            for pkg in pkgconfig_files:
-                pkgdep = PkgConfigDependency(pkg, environment, kwargs, language=self.language)
-                if pkgdep.found():
-                    self.compile_args.extend(pkgdep.get_compile_args())
-                    self.link_args.extend(pkgdep.get_link_args())
-                    self.version = pkgdep.get_version()
-                    self.is_found = True
-                    self.pcdep.append(pkgdep)
-            if self.is_found:
-                return
+        for pkg in pkgconfig_files:
+            candidates.append(functools.partial(PkgConfigDependency, pkg, env, kwargs, language=language))
 
-        if set([DependencyMethods.AUTO, DependencyMethods.CMAKE]).intersection(methods):
-            cmakedep = CMakeDependency('NetCDF', environment, kwargs, language=self.language)
-            if cmakedep.found():
-                self.compile_args = cmakedep.get_compile_args()
-                self.link_args = cmakedep.get_link_args()
-                self.version = cmakedep.get_version()
-                self.is_found = True
-                return
+    if DependencyMethods.CMAKE in methods:
+        candidates.append(functools.partial(CMakeDependency, 'NetCDF', env, kwargs, language=language))
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_methods():
-        return [DependencyMethods.AUTO, DependencyMethods.PKGCONFIG, DependencyMethods.CMAKE]
+    return candidates
 
 
 class OpenMPDependency(ExternalDependency):
@@ -485,7 +461,7 @@ def shaderc_factory(env: 'Environment', for_machine: 'MachineChoice',
         candidates.extend(c)
 
     if DependencyMethods.SYSTEM in methods:
-        candidates.append(functools.partial(ShadercDependency, environment, kwargs))
+        candidates.append(functools.partial(ShadercDependency, env, kwargs))
 
     return candidates