THE HAGUE, March 23 -- Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders announced on Wednesday morning the Dutch consulate in Istanbul was temporarily closed as a measure of precaution due to a terror threat.

"The safety of my staff and visitors to our chancelleries have the highest priority," said Koenders. "About the nature of the threat and the information that underlies them, we may, for obvious reasons, make no further statements."

He advised Dutch in the city to avoid the immediate vicinity of the consulate.

The Dutch consulate in Istanbul is on the street where a bomb attack killed five people and injured more than 30 last Saturday.

About 40 people were working when the building was evacuated on Wednesday morning. They will continue their work as much as possible from alternative locations, said the Dutch minister.