Some 7,000 new homes came on the market in the first three months of this year reached, down 6,000 or 44% on the year earlier period, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday.

The reduction was sharpest in Groningen province and there was a slight increase in Overijssel.
The number of building permits granted in the first quarter was also down 32% on a year ago, highlighting the continued impact of the economic crisis on the construction sector.