Dutch local authorities found housing for 17,000 refugees with residency permits in the second half of last year – some 4,000 more than planned, the Volkskrant reported on Thursday.

Most areas were below target up to the summer months but caught up in the second half of the year, the paper said.

There are now 16,160 people living in refugee centres who are waiting for a home, well down on the year high of nearly 17,600 reached in October, according to figures from refugee settlement agency COA.

Some 51,000 people are currently living in formal refugee accommodation, much of which is temporary.

The nationwide housing shortage means refugees who have residency status are unable to move into a regular home and free up beds for new arrivals.

The crisis has led to chaos, with people sleeping in tents and on chairs because there was nowhere for them to go. Thousands of people are still sleeping in temporary accommodation.

The target for the first half of 2023 is to find regular housing for 21,200 people.