Groningen and Drenthe demand stronger legal protections for gas extraction victims
Residents of Groningen and northern Drenthe face decades of uncertainty due to gas extraction damage. Regional authorities urge parliament to amend the Groningen Act, ensuring enforceable guarantees, fair consultation, and protection against future uncompensated damage for affected communities.
| Key Point | Demand |
|---|---|
| Enforceable guarantees | Replace vague commitments with legally binding result obligations until at least 2055. |
| Reciprocal consultation structure | Allow regional authorities to initiate consultations and determine their own representation. |
| Protection against future damage | Remove the €60,000 threshold’s final discharge clause to prevent uncompensated future damage. |
| Signatories | Province of Groningen, municipalities, northern Drenthe (Tynaarlo, Noordenveld, Aa en Hunze), and water boards Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s. |
| Parliamentary discussion date | 30 March 2026 |
The Groningen Act is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the long-term consequences of gas extraction in the region. The Dutch government, through this act, seeks to provide a framework for damage compensation, safety, and economic recovery, but regional authorities argue it falls short of earlier promises.
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Read the full translated article below
Regional authorities call for amendments to Groningen Act
The authorities in Groningen and northern Drenthe have jointly sent a detailed letter to the House of Representatives regarding the draft bill known as the Groningen Act.
Draft bill deviates from earlier government commitments
Next week, starting 30 March, the House will discuss this proposal, which includes key elements from the government’s response to *Nij Begun*. According to the regional authorities, the draft bill deviates on crucial points from earlier government commitments. The province, municipalities, and water boards are therefore urging the House of Representatives to make targeted amendments. “The government promised Groningen a generational approach to damage, safety, and recovery. The law must therefore provide the generational certainty to which residents are entitled. This can only be achieved with a law that guarantees certainty for residents who have borne the consequences of gas extraction for years and a law that is not non-binding,” said King’s Commissioner René Paas on behalf of the region. The letter to the House of Representatives addresses six critical points for the region. The three main points:
1. Turn commitments into enforceable guarantees
The current draft text states that the government must promote broad prosperity and sustainability. According to the region, this is too vague. The generations in Groningen who have been dealing with the consequences of gas extraction for decades must be able to rely on firm, enforceable commitments. The region wants the government’s goals for broad prosperity and sustainability to be enshrined as result obligations. The current duty of care is too non-binding and could be interpreted differently by future governments. To achieve the goals, the law must guarantee that sufficient funds are made available annually until at least 2055.
2. Establish a reciprocal and equal consultation structure
The draft bill gives the central government control over consultations with regional authorities. The region considers this incorrect, as they share responsibility for implementing the Social and Economic Agendas and other components of *Nij Begun*. The region therefore advocates reciprocity: consultations should also be able to be initiated by the region, and their input should be seriously considered. The region opposes the current interpretation, where consultations only occur at the initiative of the central government. The region demands that consultations be reciprocal and that regional authorities determine their own representation.
3. Prevent residents from being left with future damage
The proposal includes a threshold of €60,000 for simplified damage repair, where residents opt for ‘actual repair’. However, this choice currently comes with a final discharge: future damage will no longer be compensated. The condition that residents waive future damage claims if they choose ‘actual repair’ is, according to the region, unjust and unacceptable. In the hardest-hit municipalities, future damage cannot be ruled out; residents must not be left with uncompensated damage.
Groningen Act must provide clarity and certainty
The region believes that with these amendments, the Groningen Act will align with the reality of the area and with the promise of a generational approach. The region has one goal: a reliable government that provides clarity and certainty for residents and businesses. They have lived with uncertainty for far too long. The joint letter was drafted on behalf of the province, all Groningen municipalities, the northern Drenthe municipalities of Tynaarlo, Noordenveld, and Aa en Hunze, and the water boards of Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s.