Closing embassies will be disastrous for Dutch business, Bernard Wientjes, head of employers’ association, told television news programme Nieuwsuur on Monday evening.

Closures are inevitable as the foreign ministry attempts to save €40m on its foreign network.

‘Any decision to close embassies, consulates and other diplomatic posts is funamentally wrong,’ Wientjes told Nieuwsuur, vowing his organisation will lobby hard to have the decision overturned.

‘Our economy is dependent on exports and it is these which will be affected by this government’s decision,’ he said. ‘It really is something we cannot accept.’