The Dutch treasury became €317m richer last year through the sale of state-owned property. The government sold about 75 buildings including four prisons, four courthouses and 10 office blocks plus dozens of pieces of land, the state property service said on Thursday.

In addition government-owned buildings and land were leased out for an additional €138m.

The most noteworthy sale was of Soestdijk palace. The former home of queen Juliana and prince Bernhard is to become a centre for innovation in water management, food and sustainable energy. Part of the building will be used as a hotel and houses will be built on the former military police grounds.

Among the other buildings being found a new use are the former prison on the Havenstraat in Amsterdam which will become the new location for the British School of Amsterdam and the Bijlmerbajes prison south of Amsterdam which is being redeveloped into a residential area.