The number of people in the Netherlands turning to food banks for help rose 7.2% last year, the national organisation said on Wednesday.

The Netherlands has 171 food banks nationwide, which helped 160,500 people with free groceries last year. The biggest increase in clients were in Noord-Holland province and Rotterdam, and the organisation expects a further increase in 2021.

The government supported food banks to the tune of €4m last year, a donation which it made because of the expected surge in demand due to coronavirus.

However, most of the cash has so far not been used – because food banks rely on donations from shops and restaurants. The organisation now plans to set up a foundation to spend the money and head off suggestions there is a conflict of interest, chairman Leo Wijnbelt told Trouw.