"Greenpeace shows that Dutch government institutions are still buying timber from companies involved in illegal logging and the destruction of the forests," the organisation said in a statement.

Greenpeace said the authorities made a commitment in 2001 to stop the import of illegally produced wood.

"Cameroon boosts the world's third largest tropical rainforest. Currently the rainforest is being destroyed by large-scale logging, most of it illegal," according to Greenpeace.

To draw attention to their demands around 20 Greenpeace activists descended on The Hague seaside suburb of Scheveningen where the pier is currently being renovated using wood from a company accused of illegal logging in Cameroon.

The protesters painted the slogan "wrong wood" on the timber used for the pier.

The police arrested seven Greenpeace activists.

The environmental organisation said the wood for the renovation was brought from a company called Reef, which is allegedly involved in illegal logging in Cameroon.

After Greenpeace's allegations earlier this week Reef announced it would launch an internal investigation into illegal logging.

The Dutch environment ministry would not comment on the Greenpeace protest.

SPACE.WIRE