A majority of MPs want to ban public broadcaster NOS from charging bars and restaurants for showing this summer’s World Cup finals matches on giant screens.

Arend Kisteman, of coalition party VVD, told RTL Nieuws the charges were effectively a “double tax” by the broadcaster, which is mostly funded by the government.

“They use that money to buy the rights to sports events, among other things,” said Kisteman. “And then they ask taxpayers who are already funding them to pay up again. That has to stop.”

Kisteman called on economic affairs minister minister Heleen Herbert to intervene if NOS refuses to back down. “If it can’t be resolved, there should be another way to take the charges for broadcasting rights around the World Cup off the table,” she said.

NOS reduced its rates two years ago during the European Championships, after bar owners complained they were too high and MPs passed a motion calling for them to be abolished altogether.

Owners who want to screen the World Cup matches will have to pay 80 cents per customer, or take out a year-round licence to broadcast events based on the size of their premises. The lowest rate is €247 for café with a floor area of up to 50 m2.

Majority back ban

NOS spokesman Koen Adriaanse said the charges were introduced to ensure that third parties did not profit from broadcasting its images. “For a World Cup match it’s a small payment of around 76 cents per visitor for an event that organisers often earn income from,” he said.

Altogether 84 MPs, including the three coalition parties D66, VVD and CDA and right-wing opposition parties such as JA21, want NOS to drop the charges, according to a survey by RTL.

Ouafa Oualhadj, an MP for D66, said: “Football is supposed to bring people together, not squeeze money out of business owners.”

JA21 MP Annabel Nanninga joined the outcry. She said: “Dutch taxpayers are already paying towards NOS. Moreover, they overbid hugely for football rights, which completely distorts the market.”

The Netherlands kick off their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Japan, starting at 10pm Dutch time, followed by a match against whichever team qualifies from the European play-offs on June 20.

Their final group game is against Tunisia on June 26, with a kick-off time of 1am. All matches are being played in the United States.