The cabinet is expected to present measures on Friday to boost ground water levels as part of a package to limit CO2 emissions and soil subsidence which will affect farmers in some places.

Dried out peat bogs are a source of CO2, while the drought is also affecting hundreds of thousands of homes, particularly those built on wooden poles.

However, the measures will be major headache for dairy farmers in the peat bog areas in the  Groene Hart south of Amsterdam, and the east and north of the country. Wetter fields will make more difficult for cows and tractors to move around and bog vegetation is not one that cows eat.

The government will be talking to the farmers in the different areas to see if they can move their business elsewhere or stop farming altogether, a coalition source told the Telegraaf.

Friday’s proposals will also include ways of sustainable building in the face of climate change and measures to bring Dutch water quality up to European standards.