Some 39 million books were sold in the Netherlands last year, generating sales of €525m – up 3.5% on a year ago, according to a new report.

Although people are spending less time reading, 86% still pick up a book from time to time, the report, published at the Frankfurt book fair on Wednesday, shows. The number of actual books sold was up 2% year on year.

Nevertheless, sales have fallen by 35% since they hit a peak in 2008.

The increase recorded last year is due to non-fiction and children’s books, the Dutch book sector organisation KVB said.