News item | 03-20-2026 | 3:30 PM
More space for offshore wind energy while retaining space for fishing. At the same time, mining, shipping, defense, nature, coastal defense, sand extraction and maritime heritage are also taken into account.
The government has reserved an investment package of €1.7 billion for this reorganization. The money will be used to ensure shipping safety and to investigate the conditions for wind energy locations. The budget also goes to fishing and strengthening nature at sea, among other things.
The Council of Ministers has decided, among other things, to:
- to purchase additional emergency tugs and ensure that they sail on the North Sea 24/7 in the event of an emergency. Investments are also being made in additional sensors in the North Sea, so that what is happening there can be better monitored.
- to designate additional areas for wind energy. An indicative amount of 21 GW of wind turbines can be installed in the new areas, in addition to the previously designated space of a comparable size. This means there is room for the 40 GW of wind energy agreed in the coalition agreement.
- not to install wind turbines in certain areas to spare fishing, or to take fisheries or nature into account when designing wind farms.
- to expand the sand extraction reservation zone so that we can use it to protect the country against flooding.
Minister Karremans of Infrastructure and Water Management: “A lot happens in our North Sea, one and a half times the size of the mainland, it is almost a country in itself. Shipping, sand extraction, coastal defense, training areas for defense, but we also want to extract energy, cherish aquatic life and leave room for our fishermen. Today a major step has been taken to bring all these interests together towards a beautiful, healthy and economically strong North Sea.”
Minister Van Veldhoven of Climate and Green Growth: “We are taking an important step to invest in energy security and affordable home-grown energy. We now see how much this is necessary. Offshore wind energy is indispensable for energy for our homes, cars and economy and essential for reducing the impact on the climate.”
State Secretary Erkens of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature: “Fisheries need security and future prospects, as previously agreed in the North Sea Agreement. This remains an important priority for this cabinet. A balanced balance between all these interests, with sufficient room for safeguarding food extraction and restoration of nature, also forms the basis under the current cabinet for developing new search areas. We underline this with this decision.”
