Prisoners in the Netherlands may soon have to pay for their cell accommodation, if a bill tabled in parliament becomes law.
Deputy Justice Minister Fred Teeven "believes that a convicted prisoner serving jail time will have to pay partly for their incarceration", said ministry spokesman Wiebe Alkema.
"The minister think it's only fair that not all the costs should be shouldered by the state and society when you lock somebody up."
Prison time costs the government around 250 euros per day per prisoner, he said.
If passed by parliament, AFP reports convicted prisoners will pay a suggested flat rate of 16 euros per day for a maximum of two years.
Coalition parties agreed on the bill after winning an election in 2012. If approved, it will become law on 1 January, 2015.
A separate bill that would require prisoners to contribute to the costs of the investigation that led to their conviction is also under consideration.
The two bills would generate 65 million euros per year for the prison system which, according to official statistics, holds 12,100 inmates.
The Netherlands last year announced it would close at least 19 prisons as a result of budget cuts.
