Liberal democratic party D66 has launched an internal investigation after claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour were made against new MP Sidney Smeets.

A number of young men have reported being approached by Smeets, a lawyer and now 45, on Twitter, Facebook and gay dating app Grindr. In some cases, the young men say they were under 18 at the time.

‘Let me be clear, in our party there is no room for inappropriate behaviour,’ party leader Sigrid Kaag said in a statement. ‘D66 has clear standards for how our people should behave and that is why we are taking these claims very serious.’

Smeets too has issued a statement saying he is shocked that people have experienced his approaches as being unwanted. ‘That was never my intention,’ he said. ‘As far as I am aware, I have always behaved in line with the Dutch law.’

Smeets said he would fully cooperate with the inquiry.