The combined debt of the Netherlands’ 500 or so local councils, provincial governments and water boards reached more than €70bn by the first quarter of this year, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.

This is a rise of 40% over seven years, the CBS said. The increase is due to councils spending more than they receive from central government and in local taxes.

‘This is a consequence of the crisis and the associated spending cuts,’ the CBS said

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