One in five bridges and viaducts in the Netherlands are affected by problems such as cracks, rust and wood rot in their supporting piles, De Pers reports on Monday.

The paper bases its claims on documents obtained under freedom of information legislation.
The paper’s researchers compiled a list of 65 local authority areas where bridges had problems. In addition, three out of five bridges inspected by transport ministry officials were not safe and one had to be closed to traffic, the paper said.
The paper says some 8,000 of the country’s 40,000 bridges and viaducts pose a safety risk.