‘Many’ Dutch nationals have joined up with the ISIS, the extremist Islamic group waging war in Iraq and with links to Syria, foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans told parliament on Monday in a written briefing.

‘Various measures’ – both in terms of criminal law and administrative law – have been taken to prevent Dutch nationals joining up with groups like ISIS, Timmermans said. The Netherlands is also working together with other countries to try to stem the flow of volunteers.

The UN security council has imposed sanctions on ISIS and this means the Netherlands can also freeze the property of people connected to the organisation and prevent them from travelling, Timmermans said in his briefing.

Syria

On Monday morning, the Volkskrant said the Dutch secret service AIVD has given to Turkey the names of over 100 young men and women they believe may be planning to go to Syria to fight with Muslim rebels there.

Turkey has agreed to pick them up and deport them if they are spotted, the paper said. ‘We have a no-entry list,’ a police spokesman told the Volkskrant. ‘Everyone on this list will be refused entry if they try to cross the border.’

Around 150 Dutch nationals are said to be in Syria, most of whom travelled through Turkey to get there.