Parts of the library of the Royal Tropical Insitute have been found new homes but some 700,000 books are still at risk of being dumped, it emerged on Friday morning.

Leiden University has agreed to house the institute’s pre-1950 collection, and the Peace Palace and the medical history institute in Urk will take some other relevant books, culture minister Jet Bussemaker said in answer to MPs’ questions.

However no new home has been found for the bulk of the collection dating from the 1950s and some 700,000 books may end up being dumped at the end of this month.

The insitute’s library is being abolished from January next year because the government is to stop subsidising the organisation. Instead, it is being given a €15.3m grant to become independent within three years.