People living on the Wadden Sea island of Terschelling are angry about plans by a company named Tulip Oil to drill for gas either off shore or at three locations on land.

The company says it understands the protests but points out that it has not yet been given a drilling licence, pending an environmental report. Only when that report has been finalised, will the company begin fleshing out its plans, broadcaster Nos said at the weekend.

Spokesman Joost den Dulk said the company wanted a dialogue with the residents ‘to be able to come to a decision supporting gas extraction in a measured way’.

However a ‘sounding board’ of locals set up by the company disbanded itself last week ‘because of the emotions’, Trouw reported.

Licence

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

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

Friesland province also opposes the gas plans, Trouw said.