Start/Stop notifications
If masses of birds are expected to be migrating across the North Sea, the Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth issues the recommendation or decision to stop the offshore wind turbines. This page gives details of relevant information.
Recent notifications
In view of the predicted massive bird migration over the North Sea, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth has decided that wind farm operators must reduce the rotation speed of offshore wind turbines to less than 2 rotations per minute during March 18, 2026, from 00:00 to 06:00 hours Central European Time.
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021.
In view of the predicted massive bird migration over the North Sea, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth has decided that wind farm operators must reduce the rotation speed of offshore wind turbines to less than 2 rotations per minute on March 17, 2026, from 18:00 to 24:00 hours Central European Time.
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021.
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 revolutions per minute on November 9, 2025, from 00:00 to 06:00 CET.
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021;
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 revolutions per minute on November 8, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM CET.
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021;
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 per minute on October 14, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM CET (summer time).
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021;
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 per minute on 13 October 2025 from 00:00 to 06:00 CET (summer time) and on 13 October 2025 from 18:00 to 00:00 CET (summer time).
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021;
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 revolutions per minute on September 25, 2025, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM CET (summer time).
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South), Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021;
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth recommends reducing the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 revolutions per minute on September 24, 2025, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM CET (summer time).
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms listed in the following site decisions:
- Site Decision I, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016;
- Site Decision V (Innovation Site) Borssele Wind Energy Area, as adopted on March 24, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021; - Site Decision I, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision II, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on December 8, 2016, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision III, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision IV, Hollandse Kust (South) Wind Farm Area, as adopted on January 10, 2018, and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site Decision V, Hollandse Kust (North), as adopted on April 4, 2019, and amended on January 24, 2021
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth advises to reduce the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the wind farm decisions below to less than 2 per minute on October 30, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM CET.
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms mentioned in the following site decisions:
- Site decision I Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision II Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision III Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision IV Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision V (innovation site) Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision I Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on December 8, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision II Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision III Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on January 10, 2018 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision IV Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on January 10, 2018 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site V Hollandse Kust wind energy area (north), as established on April 4, 2019 and amended on January 24, 2021;
Wind farm operators Ørsted (Borssele 1 & 2), Vattenfall (Hollandse Kust (zuid) 1 to 4) and Crosswind (Hollandse Kust Noord 5) have indicated that they will follow the advice to limit the rotation speed of the wind turbines. Wind farm operators Blauwwind (Borssele 3 & 4) and Two Towers (Borssele 5) have indicated that they will not follow the advice.
The Minister of Climate and Green Growth advises to reduce the number of revolutions per wind turbine of the wind farms mentioned in the site decisions below to less than 2 per minute on October 25, 2024 from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM CET (summer time).
This advice applies to the offshore wind farms mentioned in the following site decisions:
- Site decision I Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision II Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision III Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision IV Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision V (innovation site) Borssele wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision I Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on December 8, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision II Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on March 24, 2016 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision III Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on January 10, 2018 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site decision IV Hollandse Kust (south) wind energy area, as adopted on January 10, 2018 and amended on January 24, 2021;
- Site V Hollandse Kust wind energy area (north), as established on April 4, 2019 and amended on January 24, 2021;
Wind farm operators Ørsted (Borssele 1 & 2), Vattenfall (Hollandse Kust (zuid) 1 to 4) and Crosswind (Hollandse Kust Noord 5) have indicated that they will follow the advice to limit the rotation speed of the wind turbines. Wind farm operators Blauwwind (Borssele 3 & 4) and Two Towers (Borssele 5) have indicated that they will not follow the advice.
Legal framework
During times of mass bird migration across the North Sea, there is a chance that their course will put them at risk of collisions with wind turbine rotors. To limit as much as reasonably possible the number of birds that fall victim to wind turbines, the Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth has opted to incorporate a provision in the site decisions for offshore wind farms. This provision implies that at night time (the period between 6 p.m. in the evening and 6 a.m. in the morning, according to Central European Time ), at times when masses of birds are migrating, the number of rotations per minute, per wind turbine, must be reduced to fewer than 2. The authority to issue a decision to stop the wind turbines is vested in the Minister under the terms of article 3 of the Offshore Wind Energy Act (Wet windenergie op zee).
What is the mechanism for reaching a recommendation?
The starting point is a prediction relating to bird migration across the North Sea, generated by a bird-prediction model developed by the University of Amsterdam on behalf of the government. If, during a specific period of the night, the model predicts a bird migration intensity that exceeds a set threshold of birds per kilometre per hour, this is considered a predicted mass bird migration. A special team of migration experts reviews the prediction. At the same time, transmission system operator TenneT analyses the risks associated with the security of generating electricity. Ultimately, the Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth decides whether or not to issue a decision to reduce the rotation speed of the offshore wind turbines to fewer than 2 revolutions per minute.