Some 150 organisations representing pensioners have merged to form the country’s biggest elderly interest group, public broadcaster NOS reports.

Some 300,000 seniors now make up the Koepel Gepensioneerden which said the merger was necessary because the elderly are not involved enough in policy-making in areas such as pensions.

The elderly should also have more of a say in healthcare, the lobby group says and according to broadcaster NOS, it will be invited to take part in political strategy discussions.

The merger did not include the union for the elderly ANBO, which has 140,000 members or interest group KBO-PCOB, which has 250,000 members. One in five of the Dutch population is over the age of 65.