House sales rose again in June by 18% compared to a year ago, sustaining a trend that has been evident since the turn of the year.

The Dutch land registry (Kadaster) recorded 17,862 sales in June, 11.2% more than in May. The figure indicates that the housing market is on course to achieve its highest ever sales total, surpassing its previous peak set in 2006.

Sales increased for all types of properties, but freestanding houses saw the sharpest rise at 20.5%, while semi-detached homes were the slowest growing segment at 15.2%.

Flevoland recorded the highest regional increase at 45%, while sales in Noord-Holland province rose by just 3.8% compared to a year ago.

The number of foreclosure sales also increased by 1.1% to 179.

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.