Gas extraction and subsidence

In Tytsjerksteradiel, there are a total of 37 wells. Natural gas is currently extracted from 18 of them. These wells were originally owned by the Dutch Oil Company (NAM) and TotalEnergies SE (Total). They have now been taken over by the Canadian gas extraction company Vermilion. This company specializes in producing natural gas from small gas fields. 

More information about the extraction locations can be found on the website of Vermilion.

Natural gas is extracted from deep underground. A gas extraction company starts with a survey to see where natural gas might be located. After that, a test drilling is done to check if the gas is actually there. If that is the case, the extraction begins. During the extraction, the gas is brought to the surface via boreholes and processed. Once the gas has been extracted from the ground, the extraction stops and the location is cleaned up. This includes removing installations and restoring the environment. This is a process that takes several to tens of years.

More information:

• Vermilion about gas extraction
• Took over gas extraction
• Energy Management Netherlands (EBN) on gas extraction

Ministry of Climate and Green Growth

If a gas extraction company has plans for new gas extraction or wants to change an existing extraction plan, the national government is the competent authority. To assess a new plan, the national government seeks advice from TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), SodM (State Supervision of Mines) and the Mining Council. Afterwards, the province, the Water Board and the municipality are given the opportunity to issue their advice. 

You can find more information about the various procedures used by the national government on this website.

Advisory role 

The municipality usually has only a limited influence on gas extraction plans and mainly fulfills an advisory role. The national government submits new plans to the municipality for advice. This advice is then taken into account in the assessment of the plan. Although municipalities play a role in advising on and assessing the impact of gas extraction plans, the final decision lies with the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth.

The Municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel always advises negatively due to land subsidence and the subsequent consequences this brings. This advice is usually established in consultation with the province and the Water Board. 

Duty of Care

Despite the municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel having limited influence on the new gas extraction plans, it wants to inform residents as well as possible about the developments regarding gas extraction, based on its duty of care. In this capacity, an information meeting took place in November 2024, where the national government, Vermilion, and TNO were present to explain their roles.

Permits

Gas extraction companies regularly apply for permits for activities at existing gas extraction sites, such as for the placement of new buildings or the construction of new gas pipelines. These permits are assessed by the municipality, which reviews the application against legal rules and local regulations. If the application meets all legal requirements, the municipality is obliged to grant the permit.

Advisory role

Like the municipality, the province mainly fulfills an advisory role. The province is mainly negative towards gas extraction due to, among other things, the peat meadow issues and the salinization of the land due to the rising sea level and the subsidence of the soil. 

Friese Mijnbouwtafel (Frisian Mining Table)

In 2022, on the initiative of the province, the Frisian Mining Table was established. This is a collaborative platform of Frisian municipalities, the province and the Wetterskip. The Mining Table aims to provide a unified administrative voice on mining activities in the province, representing the joint interests of the Frisian governments. 

Advisory role

The Water Board also fulfills an advisory role with regard to new extraction plans. 

In 2024, the Water Board indicated that they no longer want to cooperate with gas extraction and oppose any form of mining that leads to land subsidence. Previously, the Water Board helped to compensate for the negative effects of land subsidence by lowering the water level. However, they no longer see this as a viable solution. 

More information about the position of the Water Board:

• Mining and effects on water management in Friesland
• Wetterskip Fryslân no longer participates in gas extraction

Land subsidence means that the ground level is decreasing relative to a fixed reference point, such as sea level or a measured altitude. This can have various causes. Natural processes, such as the decomposition of organic material in the soil, can cause the ground to compact or sink. In addition, human activities such as gas or water extraction can also cause land subsidence. When groundwater or gas is extracted, substances are removed from the soil, which can lead to reduced pressure in the subsurface and sinking of the ground. 

In many cases, these natural causes and human activities together cause faster land subsidence and greater consequences.

Want to know more:

• Soil and subsidence – Union of Water Boards
• The physical causes of soil movement in the Netherlands – Soil Subsidence Map 2.0

If you suspect that your house has been damaged by gas extraction, you can contact the Mining Damage Committee. They handle damage reports and assess whether the damage was caused by gas extraction or not. In addition, the committee provides independent advice on compensation and ensures the handling of claims.

You can consult various websites if you want to stay informed about all activities inside and outside the municipal boundaries. Below is an overview:

• You can find extensive information about extraction activities throughout the Netherlands on NLOG. This website is managed by TNO: https://www.nlog.nl/boringen
• The Ministry of Green Growth and Climate is the competent authority for mining permits. On this website you can find information about the (current) applications, procedures, permits and other matters: https://mijnbouwvergunningen.nl/
• You can find information on Vermilion's various activities within our municipality on their website: https://www.vermilionenergy.com/nl/locatie/
• The Mining Damage Commission keeps track of the number of damage reports, among other things: https://www.commissiemijnbouwschade.nl/