Oil and gas extraction

Over 40% of the Dutch North Sea is subject to a licence issued for oil and gas prospecting and extraction. An extensive network of platforms and pipelines has been laid to enable oil and gas to be found, extracted and transported.

In all, the EEZ contains more than 2,500 km of pipeline (situation 2002). Extracted gas is landed via a number of gathering pipelines at the towns of Velsen, Callantsoog and Uithuizen. Oil pipelines come ashore at Hook of Holland and IJmuiden.

In 2007 in the Dutch sector of the North Sea were there 143 oil and gas platforms. These are drilling rigs, service platforms and platforms that are no longer in use but have not yet been dismantled.

You will find more information about oil and gas extraction here on the Noordzeeloket.nl website.