There has been a slight rise in the number of murders in the Netherlands in 2019, but the total is still well down on the 1990s, according to research by Elsevier magazine.

Elsevier puts the number at 113, a rise of seven on 2018’s total of 106, which was a record low since the magazine started researching the murder rate in 1992.

Among this year’s most significant murders was the killing of four people on a tram in Utrecht, shot dead by Gokman Tanis. In another high profile case, student Thijs H killed three people out walking their dogs.

The murder of criminal defence lawyer Derk Wiersum was the most shocking gang-related killing. He was shot dead outside his home in the Amsterdam suburb of Buitenveldert.

Amsterdam topped the list with 16 murders, Elsevier said. There were 12 in The Hague and in Rotterdam.

Earlier this month, the Parool put the number of violent deaths in Amsterdam at 21.