Some 400 households who live directly underneath high-tension power cables are to get a financial offer to leave their homes, economic affairs minister Henk Kamp has confirmed.

A spokesman for the minister told website nu.nl that while living under the cables is not dangerous, there is enough public support to buy out home-owners.

The cost of the buy-out plan is put at €140m, the website said.

Kamp also wants to find out if more high-tension cables can be laid underground. Within 15 years, 135 km of cables near population centres are to be buried, at a cost of €440m.