The council on the Wadden Sea island of Terschelling on Tuesday evening voted unanimously against gas extraction, news agency ANP reports on Wednesday.

The vote came after it emerged that a company named Tulip Oil plans to drill for gas either off shore or at three locations on land. The company has not yet been given a drilling licence, pending an environmental report, but the islanders are already up in arms about the plans. Terschelling has protected status.

The motion voted on on Tuesday said ‘the council will do everything in its power to stop gas extraction on and around Terschelling’. However, it has only an advisory role in the decision, as does the Friesland provincial council, which also opposes the plans.

The final decision lies with the economic affairs ministry which has confirmed that Tulip Oil has submitted an application for a permit to extract the gas.

The gas field under the popular holiday island was identified over 20 years ago.