Amsterdam is leading the way in the sale of micro apartments of between 20 and 50 m2, according to research by the Kadaster land registry.

Last year, 1,925 small apartments were sold in the capital and cost an average of just over €400,000, the Kadaster said. That is 1.4 times the price in Utrecht and almost double that of other parts of the country.

Just over half of the 5,100 small apartments sold last year changed hands in the big four cities and 38% were bought in Amsterdam.

This is due in part to the capital’s attraction for young adults, who are prepared to live in smaller properties because house prices have risen so much, Kadaster economist Paul de Vries told Dutch News.

Micro homes are typified by having plenty of shared amenities, such as work space, laundry facilities and cars or bikes.