Almost 69,000 new homes were added to the Dutch housing stock in 2021, down on the 2019 and 2020 totals but still roughly in line with government targets when conversions are taken into account.

Most new homes were built in Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland, particularly in and around Amsterdam. The capital’s housing stock grew by 4,675 units, or around 1%, national statistics agency CBS said on Wednesday.

A further 8,000 homes were created by converting redundant buildings, such as offices and public buildings into housing, taking the total to 77,000 over the year. In 2020, 10,000 homes were created via conversions.

The new government wants to increase the number of homes in the Netherlands by some 100,000 units a year, a rise of 25,000 on the previous administration’s target.