Some 80% of the Dutch have contact with other family members at least once a week and there is no difference in this between the generations, according to new research by national statistics office CBS.

But while 69% of pensioners have contact with their neighbours at least once a week, only four in 10 of the under-35s did so.

One fifth of the over-65s had some form of exchange with the people living close by on a daily basis, the CBS research found. Nevertheless, this is down on 10 years ago, when 75% of pensioners had weekly contact with their neighbours.

The research also showed that 12% of the over-65s and the under 35s said they felt lonely and would like to have more contact with others. However adults aged 35 to 65 are the most likely to feel the need for more interaction with others, with 16% saying they felt socially isolated.