A total of 4,821 older cars were handed over to be destroyed in the first week of the government’s subsidy scheme, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.

Since last week, consumers can claim between €750 and €1,750 from the government if they trade in a car made before 1999.
Some €66m has been set aside for the scheme, which ministers hope will encourage new car sales and reduce the number of environment-unfriendly cars on the roads.