The village of Markelo in the east of the country is to be the site of six new pig farms with a total of 15,000 animals despite widespread opposition, the local council agreed on Tuesday night.

The six farms will cover some 40 hectares. The project is funded by animal feed group For Farmers, Rabobank, meat processor Dumeco and the Overijssel provincial government, news agency ANP reports.
Local pig farmers will be given priority in the new project, which aims to concentrate pork production in one area.
The Volkskrant reports that environment minister Jacqueline Cramer is opposed to locating large pig factories in rural areas, saying they are better suited to industrial estates.