Natural gas extraction in northwestern Friesland is causing the ground to sink far faster than expected, local officials said on Thursday. The ground level in the town of Franeker was forecast to sink a maximum of eight centimetres but has already gone down by 13cm and could go down by a further four, Paul van Erkelens of the Wetterskip water board said.

The board has urged the economic affairs ministry to take action. It wants gas company Vermillion to pay for changes to ditches, dykes and pumping stations to cope with the falling water table.