Dutch housing corporations evicted 5,800 tenants last year, a 15% drop on 2013, new figures from umbrella organisation Aedes show.

Most evictions were due to people not paying their rent. However, people who illegally sublet their homes or used them to grow marijuana were also evicted, Aedes said.

In total, the courts granted 23,500 eviction orders but many were avoided through mediation. Housing corporations are also taking a more pro-active role in helping their tenants avoid building up rent arrears.

Aedes said the number of evictions could be reduced still further if rental payments were given priority when people run into debt. Currently, taxes and fines have priority when repayment schemes are being worked out.