TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Dutch as "Nazi remnants and fascists", as a diplomatic row grows over a cancelled rally.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte responded that the remark was "way out of line". Adding, "It's a crazy remark, of course."

The Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to speak in the Dutch city of Rotterdam yesterday in support of a referendum to give Erdogan greater powers. But the rally was banned for security reasons and the minister's plane was then refused permission to land.

President Erdogan reacted to the ban on his foreign minister by threatening to block Dutch flights. He said: "Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let's see how your flights will land in Turkey."

Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit were blocked.

Turkey has summoned the Dutch charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry in Ankara for an explanation.

In a strange twist, Turkey's family minister will attempt to travel by land to the Dutch city of Rotterdam, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya is in Germany for separate meetings but plans to head to the Netherlands later, despite having her meetings there cancelled.

Rutte warned in a statement that the Turkish threat of sanctions made "the search for a reasonable solution impossible".

The diplomatic row comes just days before Dutch voters go to the polls on Wednesday. The election campaign has been dominated by issues of identity.

The anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party, Geert Wilders – who campaigned against the Turkish minister's visit – is expected to make significant gains,.

Austria, Germany and Switzerland have banned similar gatherings where Turkish officials were due to speak.

Rutte also stressed that Dutch officials had earlier discussed whether the planned rally with Cavusoglu could be private and "smaller-scale" and held in a Turkish consulate or embassy.