Economic affairs minister Bas van ‘t Wout, who took over the job following the resignation of Erik Wiebes in the aftermath the childcare benefit tax scandal, is off sick with an occupational burn-out and will be out for at least three months, the state information service RVD has said.

Van ‘t Wout’s job will be taken over by foreign minister Stef Blok and trade minister Sigrid Kaag will take over Blok’s duties.

In addition, a second junior minister is being appointed to the economic affairs department to focus on energy and climate change, the RVD said. That job is going to Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, an MP for the VVD since 2017.

Van ‘t Wout took over from Wiebes on January 20. Prior to moving to economic affairs, he was junior social affairs minister, having replaced Tamara van Ark, who shifted to the health ministry when hospital care minister Bruno Bruins collapsed through exhaustion and quit politics.

Two MPs – Pieter Omtzigt and Harry van der Molen – are also currently off with exhaustion through overwork. Omtzigt said on Tuesday that he would be at least four  more months off work, and will be replaced in parliament pending his return.