House prices in the Netherlands shot up by an average 8.2% in 2017, outpacing gains in the rest of western Europe with the exception of Portugal and Ireland.

The survey of 17 countries by property valuation company Calcasa revealed that Dutch house prices rose almost 21% over the past three years.

Calcasa carried out two separate studies, one covering a 3-year and the other a 5-year period. Prices in Ireland, Sweden and Portugal rose the most in both surveys.

House prices did not rise as quickly in the Netherlands as in other European countries between 2012 and 2017, which Calcasa said, was a hangover from the 2008  economic crisis.

Dutch property prices were still declining in 2012 and 2013. As a result, the price rise over five years was somewhat lower than in other countries, Calcasa said.