MPs want the government to call a halt to plans by a new company known as Tulip Oil to drill for gas off the Wadden Sea island of Terschellling.

MPs point out that not only is the Wadden Sea area unique and has Unesco world heritage status, but the entire island council has voted against the plan.

Parliament wants economic affairs minister Henk Kamp to freeze all requests for Wadden Sea drilling licences until the end of the year, when amendments to gas drilling legislation will be debated.

Kamp said earlier he wanted to decide what to do about the Tulip Oil request before the summer. The gas field under the island was first identified 20 years ago.