House prices in the Netherlands continue to rise, reaching an average of €354,000 in the third quarter of the year, compared with the same period in 2019, according to new figures from real estate agent association NVM.

In total, nearly 41,600 homes were sold by NVM members between July and September – the best result in the organisation’s history. The NVM represents around 65% of the market.  As in the second quarter, there was no sign of a ‘coronavirus dip’, the NVM said.

NVM chairman Onno Hoes said the cabinet is not doing enough to create more supply. ‘If they don’t take extra measures, the cabinet will shoot itself in the foot,’ he said. Without action, ‘there will be an impact on jobs, on moves to make the housing stock more sustainable and on the ability of the average household to afford a home.’

Although there were fewer homes for sale in most of the country, there was an increase in choice in the Amsterdam region, where the number of homes on the market rose 31%, year on year.

NVM housing market analyst Lara Gerssen told broadcaster NOS this is because investors and expats are selling property. In addition, more people are leaving the city because of coronavirus, she said.

In Amsterdam house prices are up 8% year on year, but in western parts of Friesland, for example, the average rise is 20%.