Parts of Groningen experienced one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the province early on Friday morning. The earthquake measured 3.4 on the Richter scale and occurred at 1:16 am, with its epicenter near the village of Zeerijp. There were no reports of damage so far, but the shaking was felt over a large area, stretching from the German border to the Drenthe border. An aftershock measuring 2 on the Richter scale followed later at 6:30 am.
Local residents described the quake vividly. One person from Loppersum said they first heard a rumbling noise before the shaking began, while a resident of Zeerijp, Jasper Jacobs, said he was jolted awake by “an incredibly loud bang,” something he had never experienced before. Another resident, Max Siccama, recalled briefly losing control of his car during two strong jolts.
Photo Credits: Tom Swinnen/Pexels
The Groningen gas fields, a major source of natural gas extraction in the Netherlands since 1963, were permanently shut down in 2023 due to the earthquakes caused by gas extraction. The Dutch state earned around €360 billion from this gas, with energy companies Shell and ExxonMobil also profiting €66 billion through their stake in NAM, the operating company.
Despite these financial gains, the community has suffered greatly. Since the 1980s, over 1,600 earthquakes have hit the Groningen region, damaging approximately 85,000 buildings. A critical moment occurred in 2012 when a 3.6-magnitude quake struck the village of Huizinge. The frequency and severity of tremors have caused ongoing distress for residents.
In 2023, a parliamentary commission concluded that both the government and oil companies had systematically ignored the interests of Groningen’s people. The commission criticised the prioritisation of profits over residents’ safety and well-being as gas extraction led to destructive earthquakes.
Thousands of residents and local businesses are still awaiting compensation, not only for property damage but also for mental health impacts caused by living under the constant threat of earthquakes.
The situation remains a significant source of tension and uncertainty in Groningen, as the community looks for justice and support after decades of disruption and damage caused by gas extraction activities.
