In total, 2,165 people who work for the government or in a public sector job earned more than a minister last year, the Financieele Dagblad reports.

The government has an official pay ceiling of €193,000 for most public functions – in line with the average minister’s salary. The figures are contained in a briefing for MPs.
On average, the officials earned €234,000 and worked for one of 470 different organisations. Most people who earned more than the prime minister worked in the health service – usually as medical specialists or in executive functions.
Others worked for educational and research institutions, housing corporations and public broadcasters.
In 2013, new legislation will come into effect which will impose a formal ceiling on top public sector salaries.