The De Sionsberg hospital in Dokkum, Friesland will close down this week because its parent company has gone bankrupt, local broadcaster Omrop Fryslân said on Wednesday.

Patients are being moved to other hospitals and 260 workers will lose their jobs, the broadcaster said. The hospital, run by the Zorggroep Pasana foundation, has been in financial trouble for several years and has built up debts of €40m.

The hospital says its problems are due to a shortage of patients. Last year, one-third of the workforce lost their jobs.

In the meantime, a third party has come forward to buy the group’s care of the elderly services. More details of that potential deal have not been made public.

Dutch hospitals are non-profit organisations. Most of them are foundations and get their funding from the government and via patient fees. The government is considering allowing hospitals to pay dividends to shareholders in certain situations.