Taxis are to be required by law to accept guide dogs, junior transport Wilma Mansveld has announced.

‘It is unacceptable that blind people and those with poor sight are unable to use some taxis because they have a dog with them,’ she said in a briefing to parliament.

The Dutch guide dog association said in July dogs are still often refused in taxis and called for national legislation.

Amsterdam and The Hague have already made the acceptance of guide dogs a formal requirement for taxi drivers, Nos television said. The national legislation is likely to come into effect in the second half of next year.