Magnitude 3.0 Tremor Near Gas Field Felt Across Assen
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck near the Eleveld gas field in Drenthe early Saturday morning, waking residents in the surrounding region, including the nearby city of Assen, according to the KNMI (Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut – Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute).
The tremor occurred at 2:14 a.m. just southeast of Assen. According to automatic measurements by the KNMI, the earthquake was classified as an induced earthquake, meaning it was triggered by human activity rather than natural geological movements.
Residents across the area reported feeling the shaking during the night. Several people in Assen said on social media that the tremor woke them from sleep. Some described hearing loud rumbling sounds, while others said their homes briefly shook.
One resident reported that the entire house vibrated as if a sudden heavy storm had broken out. Another described strong shaking and a loud rumbling noise inside the house before everything quickly became quiet again.
The earthquake occurred in the municipality of Aa en Hunze near the Eleveld gas field, an area where similar tremors have been recorded before. In 2023, several earthquakes were detected near the locations of Ekehaar and Hooghalen with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 2.2.
Gas extraction at the Eleveld field stopped several months ago after the site was no longer considered profitable. Earlier this year, the Commissie Mijnbouwschade (Mining Damage Commission) said it disagrees with the compensation currently being paid to residents in nearby villages who reported damage linked to gas extraction and called for broader compensation for affected communities.