Turkey: Dutch Embassy, Consulate sealed over soaring diplomatic standoff

In a development indicating the rocketing impasse between the two nations, Turkish authorities have sealed off the Dutch Embassy and Consulate, following the latest incident in the diplomatic row between the two countries.

Citing sources at Turkey's foreign ministry, the Guardians reports that Turkey also closed off the residences of the Dutch ambassador, charge d'affaires and consul general, as tensions between the Nato partners escalated after the Dutch government barred Turkey's foreign minister from flying to Rotterdam.

Earlier, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan branded the Netherlands "Nazi remnants" and "fascists" after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his foreign minister to land in the Netherlands for a planned visit.

Rotterdam city authorities denied permission on Friday for Mevlut Cavusoglu to attend a meeting of the Turkish community in support for Erdogan's plans to extend his powers.

Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Cavusoglu had been barred from landing.

Rutte said that while the Netherlands and Turkey could try to find "an acceptable solution", Turkey was not respecting the rules relating to public gatherings.

"Many Dutch people with a Turkish background are authorised to vote in the referendum over the Turkish constitution. The Dutch government does not have any protest against gatherings in our country to inform them about it. But these gatherings may not contribute to tensions in our society and everyone who wants to hold a gathering is obliged to follow instructions of those in authority so that public order and safety can be guaranteed," he said.