A magnitude 1.6 earthquake shook the village of Sappemeer in Groningen shortly after 7:00 p. m.
, causing widely reported tremors across the surrounding region.
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Regional broadcaster RTV Noord received dozens of reports from residents who felt the ground movement.
Quake Induced by Gas Extraction
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) registered the seismic activity.
According to the institute, the earthquake was induced by human activity, specifically historical gas extraction in the Groningen field.
These shallow human-induced quakes typically cause more noticeable surface shaking than deeper natural events.
Local residents described the event to RTV Noord as a "short, violent thump," while another noted it was "short, but audible and noticeable."
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Others reported hearing a "bang, followed by a substantial vibration."
A resident in neighboring Froombosch witnessed her table move suddenly during the loud noise.
In Sappemeer itself, another resident experienced the tremor as "a kind of impact" that rattled doors and glass.
"Everything in the house shook," said another local resident.
Although seismic frequency has dropped since gas extraction in the Groningen field halted in 2024, the KNMI warns that quakes remain possible.
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In October 2025, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck nearby Zeerijp, marking the third-strongest quake ever recorded in the Groningen field.
