The number of children in the Netherlands who don’t live with both their natural parents has risen 200,000 to 600,000 over the past 20 years, according to national statistics office CBS.

The figures, which date from 2015, show divorce is the reason why some 300,000 children don’t live with both their parents but there has also been a sharp rise in the number of single women giving birth.

The CBS is also following a number of parents who have opted for co-parenting after divorce – which means the children move between two homes. Some 25% of divorced couples opt for co-parenting and 80% of the former couples in the CBS research maintained the dual home structure for at least two years.

Co-parenting is most successful when parents are well off with little conflict and few personal problems, the CBS said.