Drenthe seeks €10,000 payout for residents after Eleveld earthquake
The province of Drenthe and several municipalities are urging the Dutch government to adopt a more generous approach to earthquake damage claims after a 3.0-magnitude tremor struck the region on March 14. The quake originated in a closed gas field at Eleveld, where the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) extracted gas for decades.
In a letter to State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat of Climate and Green Growth, Drenthe and the municipalities of Aa en Hunze, Assen, and Midden-Drenthe requested that all affected residents receive a one-time 10,000 euros payment for damage repair, RTV Drenthe reports. The letter also recommends allowing residents the option to have damage repaired directly and free of charge by a contractor, rather than receiving money.
"Residents should be able to report damage in a manner that is milder, easier, and more humane, similar to Groningen," the letter states. In Groningen, victims of gas extraction earthquakes can receive a 10,000 euros compensation or have damage repaired at no cost, and are not limited to reporting within a 12-month window, as is currently required in Drenthe.
More than 2,000 claims have already been filed with the Commissie Mijnbouwschade (CM) and the Instituut Mijnbouwschade Groningen (IMG), primarily from Assen and surrounding villages in Aa en Hunze and Midden-Drenthe.
Officials are also reportedly pushing for a dispute resolution system so that residents who disagree with compensation decisions do not have to face the NAM in court. Currently, filing objections is nearly impossible due to the complexity of the cases.
The letter highlights additional concerns, including the treatment of businesses and housing corporations. These entities must now report damage directly to the NAM, while only small businesses are exempted. Officials also noted that excessive fees paid to specialized damage assessment firms have left residents with disproportionately low compensation. Following the 2023 Ekehaar earthquakes, the firm 10BE received 440,000 euros, while residents collectively received just 80,000 euros for repairs.
Drenthe and its municipalities stressed that the State Secretary cannot implement a new compensation scheme alone; the NAM, responsible for paying the damage costs, must also approve. Officials called for urgent discussions to reach a new, fair system.
