House sales hit new records with 42,800 transactions in the second quarter of 2016, says the NVM estate agents’ association.

The previous high was in 2006, reports the NOS public broadcaster, and the new boom is probably linked to low mortgage interest rates.

Average homes are now selling for 14% more than in the depths of the housing crisis, although still 7% below the last high. Chairman of the NVM Ger Jaarsma told NOS that ‘differences across the Netherlands are getting steadily greater.’

Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht showed the greatest increase in prices year-on-year, and more than half of homes in the Dutch capital sell for more than the asking price (compared with 13% nationwide).

Earlier this week the organisation said it was ever more difficult for first-time buyers to raise a mortgage.