The number of people claiming welfare benefits at the end of last year reached the lowest level in 10 years, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday.

In total, 394,000 people were claiming bijstand, down 3% on the previous year, the CBS said.

The biggest drop – 6% – was in the number of claims made by people aged between 27 and 45. The number of claims has been declining steadily since early 2017.

Welfare benefits in the Netherlands are payable to people who have no right to unemployment benefit or a pension, or who don’t have assets at their disposal.