A 2.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in the south of the Dutch province of Limburg on Friday morning, according to the Dutch Meteorological Institute, KNMI. No damage was reported.
The epicentre of the earthquake, which occurred shortly before 8 a.m., was near Kerkrade.
According to the KNMI, it was a tectonic earthquake, caused by the movement of tectonic plates. "This type of natural earthquake is far from unique," Läslo Evers, head of seismology at the National Meteorological Service, told the Dutch media NOS. The phenomenon is known in Limburg and was not very significant on Friday, Evers said.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of just five kilometres, so it was felt more strongly than usual. Earthquakes in the Dutch province often reach a depth of 10 to 15 km., Mr. Evers told NOS.
One person reported feeling the earthquake to the seismology department of the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
The strongest earthquake ever recorded in the Netherlands was in Roermond in April 1992. With a magnitude of 5.8, it caused a great deal of damage.
