The number of local councils in the Netherlands should be reduced by 25, home affairs minister Ronald Plasterk said in a briefing document for MPs on Tuesday.

There are currently around 400 city, town and district councils in the Netherlands, but their number should be cut by 100 by the end of this cabinet period in four years’ time, Plasterk said.

The government is planning to transfer more responsibility for the long-term sick, elderly and problem youth to local authorities. It is therefore essential they are big enough to cope, Plasterk said.