Half the over-55s have a smartphone, up from 35% a year ago, according to research by Deloitte.

‘It is more difficult to buy an ordinary mobile phone now, and this is one reason older people are moving to smartphones,’ Deloitte’s Patrick Steemers told broadcaster Nos. Another reason is that smartphones have larger screens and are therefore easier to read.

However, the over-55s are not keen on apps. ‘One in four has never downloaded an app,’ says Steemers. ‘They mainly make calls and send text messages, and they are beginning to use it for email.’

Smartphone ownership among the over-55s is lower than the average, with 71% of the Dutch owning one.