The former chief executive of financial services group SNS Reaal, which was nationalised earlier this month, has gone into hiding abroad after receiving threats, RTL news reports.

Sjoerd van Keulen, who left the company several years ago but was responsible for buying the troubled property finance division, was told by police to remain out of sight for several weeks, the broadcaster said.

In particular, Van Keulen has come in for online abuse, with some websites showing photographs of his house.

Hundreds of investors lost all their money in SNS Reaal following the nationalisation. Finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said their shares would have been worthless anyway if the bank was allowed to go bust.