The number of young Dutch people living alone has increased in recent years, bucking a trend seen in many other European countries, according to a new EU report.

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions says more Dutch youngsters struck out on their own between 2007 and 2011, but in most other countries – particularly central and eastern Europe – the under-29s were more likely to live at home.

In 2007, nearly 40% of Dutch under-29s still lived with their parents, but this fell to 33% by 2011.

The report shows across Europe there was a four percentage point increase in the number of under-29s living with one or more parents between 2007 and 2011. Young men are more likely to live with their parents than young women.

In Malta and Slovenia, 85% of the under-29s still live at home. In Finland, just 15% do so.