News item | 28-11-2025 | 2:00 PM
The Dutch state and NAM have reached an agreement under which gas will not be extracted under the Wadden Sea near Ternaard. Minister Sophie Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) wrote this to the House of Representatives.
The conclusion of the agreement now provides clarity on this issue after years of uncertainty. Although it will be legally established in 2024 that no new gas extraction will be permitted under the Wadden Sea, license holder NAM had already requested permission for extraction at Ternaard under the Wadden Sea in 2019.
Despite the social feelings surrounding this intention, the cabinet had no legal grounds to reject NAM’s application. This issue dragged on for years, but the Council of State ruled twice that the cabinet could no longer postpone a decision. To force a breakthrough, consultations were held with NAM last year to persuade them to abandon the extraction request.
It has now been agreed that NAM will withdraw the request for approval of the extraction plan. The government will pay a gross amount of € 163 million to NAM and EMPN for this. A significant part of this amount is returned to the state through payments to state participation EBN and through taxes, so that NAM and EMPN together are expected to receive € 40 million net.
The amount is paid from the government budget and concerns underspending for 2025. Money that was budgeted, but not spent. This expenditure must still be approved by parliament.
Minister Hermans (Climate and Green Growth): “I am very happy that we have now made a breakthrough, because this issue felt like an endless prayer. I sincerely hope that this will provide peace and clarity. With this agreement we are responding to a broad wish of the House and society not to allow new gas extraction under the Wadden Sea near Ternaard.”
This agreement permanently excludes gas extraction under the Wadden Sea near Ternaard. Because the legislation for gas extraction under the Wadden Sea has been amended in recent years, it is certain that no new gas extraction will take place under the Wadden Sea now or in the future.