A vegan woman's request for citizenship has been turned down by a Swiss community because she "annoys" the local residents with her "anti-cowbell" campaigning.

A vegan woman's request for citizenship has been turned down by a Swiss community because she "annoys" the local residents with her "anti-cowbell" campaigning.

According to the Swiss English news site, The Local, 42-year-old Nancy Holten, a native of the Netherlands, has had her application for a passport denied by a local committee of residents.

The vegan and animal rights activist, has been living in Switzerland since she was eight and has regularly started campaigns against cowbells, church bells, piglet racing, and other Swiss customs.

"Many people think that I am attacking their traditions," Holten told The Local. "But what primarily motivated me about the cowbells was the animals' welfare."

Due to her "anti-social" behaviour, the small community of Gipf-Oberfrick in the canton of Aargau, have denied her application, which unfortunately for Holten, have a larger say in citizenship than the federal government.

Her first attempt in 2015 was rejected by 144 of 206 village residents and her most recent effort in November has also proven unsuccessful.

She has now appealed to the provincial government which could upturn the locals' vote, however, the President of the Swiss People's Party, Tanja Suter, has told the media that Holten has a "big mouth" and would not be granted the Swiss citizenship "if she annoys us and doesn't respect our traditions".

Many in the community are even wandering why she wants to be a Swiss citizen at all, but Holten is very attached to the country she has called home since she was a child.

She is very much devoted to what is significant to her, especially to the animals.

“Their well-being is important to me. If I stop doing it any more, I am not being genuine and honest. So I will not stop just for the sake of the Swiss passport.”

One thing's for sure, Holten is committed to her cause.