A motion urging the Dutch government to support Greece’s call to European countries to take in 2,500 child refugees currently living in camps without their parents was rejected by a majority of MPs on Wednesday.

The motion, tabled by SP MP Jasper van Dijk, and which asked the Dutch government to support the call during a meeting of European home affairs ministers, was voted against by three of the four coalition parties plus the far right PVV and FvD, as well as 50Plus.

The Dutch government has consistently rejected calls to take in at least 500 child refugees despite offers from numerous local authorities, saying it prefers to help ‘on the ground’, for instance by organising foster care for the children with Greek families on the main land.

Other European countries, such as France, Finland, Portugal, Germany and Luxembourg have already taken in a number of child refugees.