There has been a small rise in the number of murders in the Netherlands this year, with the total now at 150, compared with 142 in 2012, according to Elsevier magazine.

Last year’s total was the lowest ever since Elsevier began compiling the records. Between 1992 and 2001 there was an average of 253 murders a year but over the last few years the total has hovered around 150.

At least 13 of the deaths were gangland killings and seven were family murders.

Amsterdam was the country’s murder capital, with 21 deaths, followed by Rotterdam with 20. Both cities had just 14 murders in 2012. There were just three murders in The Hague, compared with 12 a year ago.