Groningen Just Had Its Strongest Earthquake of the Year

If you live in the north and woke up before your alarm on Friday, this may be why. A 2.8 magnitude earthquake occurred near the village of Zandeweer, in the Het Hogeland area of Groningen, at 5:50 in the morning on Friday, August 21, 2026. This is the strongest earthquake in the Groningen region yet this year, according to local reports.

People felt it across the area, from Uithuizen and Uithuizermeeden to Warffum, Kantens, Rottum, and Middelstum.

What Exactly Happened

The quake struck at a depth of 3 kilometers, which is shallow. Shallow quakes push more of their shaking up to the surface. As a result, a 2.8 in Groningen feels stronger than the number suggests.

One note on the measurement. A computer does the first magnitude reading, and a human seismologist hasn’t fully reviewed it yet, so it may be adjusted slightly.

The KNMI classifies the event as an “induced earthquake.” That means people caused it, not natural movement deep in the earth. In Groningen, decades of gas extraction caused it.

Why Groningen Still Shakes

This surprises many people who are new to the Netherlands. The Groningen gas field stopped production in October 2023 and closed permanently in April 2024. Why do the quakes keep coming?

Because the ground is still settling. Decades of gas removal changed the pressure in the rock layers deep beneath the province. That pressure keeps balancing itself out, and each shift can set off a quake. Most experts expect earthquakes to continue for years, though they should happen less and less often.

Felt It? Here Is What to Do

A 2.8 magnitude earthquake usually does not cause serious damage. But Groningen homes have been through many of these, and the damage adds up.

• Walk around your home and check walls, ceilings, and tile work for new cracks.
• Take photos with your phone, with the date visible if possible.
• Report damage to the IMG (Instituut Mijnbouwschade Groningen) at schadedoormijnbouw.nl. Filing a claim is free.
• Renting? Tell your landlord or housing corporation too.

What to Watch

Check the KNMI earthquake page for the reviewed magnitude, which should appear there soon. And if you felt this one, you can report it to the KNMI. Those reports help map how far the shaking reached.