The Dutch government recalled its ambassador from Syria on Tuesday, its foreign minister said, following similar steps by several nations to ratchet up the pressure against Damascus.

The Netherlands follows France, Italy and Spain which announced they were bringing back their envoys after Britain, Belgium and the United States took similar steps in protest at the regime's relentless crackdown on protesters.

"I have decided to bring the Dutch ambassador back from Damascus for consultations," Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal told parliament. "He'll probably travel back today."

Rosenthal said he also called in the Syrian ambassador to Brussels, who represents Damascus's interests in the Netherlands, for what he termed a "further explanation".

Civil rights groups say around 6,000 civilians have been killed in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government's 11-month crackdown.