Dutch public transport halted by strike against welfare cuts

AMSTERDAM, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Public transport in the Netherlands was halted on Wednesday by a nationwide strike against government proposals to cut welfare spending.

Almost no trains, buses or ferries operated throughout the country because of the 24-hour strike, which also affected international train services to Belgium, Germany, France and Britain.

Labour unions organised the strike against government plans to cut up to €6.5 billion ($7.6 billion) in annual welfare spending, mainly by limiting unemployment benefits, to fund a large increase in defence spending.

The strike adds to the difficulties the centre-right minority government, installed this year, already has in getting proposals approved in both houses of parliament.

Lacking a majority, the coalition needs outside support. But the opposition-leading, left-wing Pro party has sided with the unions in their demand that all proposals to cut welfare spending should be taken off the table.

In an effort to gain support, the government has already dropped a plan to raise the retirement age and last week agreed to soften other proposals.

But the Pro party has said this was likely not enough, setting the stage for further negotiations after the official presentation of the government budget on September 15.

($1 = 0.8595 euros)

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Alex Richardson)