Moscow: The Netherlands has said it has decided to reduce the size of the Russian diplomatic mission in Amsterdam alleging that Moscow  sends spies instead of diplomatic workers, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Saturday.

The Netherlands has made "a very important step" to expel about a dozen Russian diplomats, the minister said, as quoted by the NOS public broadcaster.

The expelled diplomats will have to leave within two weeks, he added.

The Russian trade mission in Amsterdam will need to close down this coming Tuesday, the minister said, adding that the Dutch Consulate General in St. Petersburg would also close on Monday.

The minister said that Russia was delaying the issuance of visas to Dutch diplomats.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)