House sales rose by 20% in March according to official figures, providing further evidence that the Dutch property market is recovering from its slump.

Last month, 16,124 homes changed hands, while the number of mortgages registered increased by a similar margin of 21.5%, the monthly figures compiled by the Dutch land registry (Kadaster) showed.

So far this year, property sales have increased by around 20% compared to a year ago. House prices have also consistently risen by more than 3% a year since September.

All types of property recorded an increase in March. The biggest rise in demand was for apartments, where the figure went up by 29%, while at the other end of the scale 7% more end-terrace houses were sold.

The Kadaster also recorded a 7.4% increase in the number of foreclosure sales, which rose to 246.

House sales dropped to a low of around 110,000 a year in 2013, following a five-year slump that saw property values drop by around 20%. Last year sales levels recovered to 178,000 but transaction values remain around 10% below their 2008 peak.