Junior social affairs minister Jette Klijnsma has been attacked by members of her own Labour party for suggesting pensioners could get an allotment to boost their income.

Klijnsma was speaking in Saturday’s AD about government plans to reform the pension system, in which she said people have to be realistic about their future finances.

‘I know people who have an allotment which supplies a lot of fruit and vegetables,’ she said. ‘Or own your own home. Once the mortgage has been paid off, you can live very well on the state pension.’

Stupid

Labour chairman Hans Spekman said the minister’s comments were stupid. ‘People should not depend on an allotment. That would be ridiculous,’ he said during a debate in Utrecht.

‘It was a stupid comment and I don’t agree. Social security in the Netherlands is good, and that includes pensions. If it is not enough [to live on] it should be raised.’

Socialist and Christian Democrat MPs have also criticised the minister and plan to call her to parliament on Tuesday for questioning.