The Netherlands has the highest percentage of empty office buildings in Europe with 13% of offices unoccupied, according to Dutch university researchers.

Among capital cities, Amsterdam ranks second highest with 18% of offices unoccupied. The Greek capital Athens is the highest with 20%.

The figures come courtesy of a survey by the universities of Twente and Amsterdam quoted in free newspaper Metro.

The researchers also discovered that areas around train stations, usually considered the most attractive locations and where office buildings are still being constructed, are remaining empty because supply is outstripping demand.

They found one case of a ten-year-old building on a prime location along the A12 where the rent has dropped from its original rent of €200 per square metre to €70.