Ministry name changes implemented by ministers at the start of the new cabinet period in 2017 have cost nearly €32m in terms of software and branding, according to finance ministry auditors.

Several ministries took on new departments when prime minister Mark Rutte’s third cabinet came into office. The economic affairs ministry became the ministry for economic affairs and the climate, while a new ministry – farming, nature and food quality – came into being.

The most noteworthy change was the decision to rename the security and justice ministry the justice and security ministry – a switch which cost €2m to implement, the Volkskrant said.

The most expensive change, accounting for over €26m, was the decision to bring back the agriculture ministry, whose work had been done by the economic affairs ministry in the previous administration.