The Dutch claim an average of €2,153 a year from their health insurance companies, just over half of which is due to specialist medical care, website Nu.nl says on Wednesday.

Medicine accounts for a further €260 a year, Nu.nl says.

The bill for the over-65s is more than three times as high as that for youngsters and local council areas with a low average income have higher than average healthcare bills, the survey found.

Last week it emerged that the government expects healthcare insurance premiums to rise by around €7 a month next year.