A quarter of households in the Netherlands have trouble with their neighbours, with noise – particularly loud music – heading the list of complaints, news agency ANP said on Monday.

The complaints come mainly from population-dense areas. In Zuid Holland, for example, 28% of households report fights with the neighbours and loud music accounted for 60% of the problems.

By contrast, in rural Flevoland, just 2% of households have issues with the family next door. The figures were compiled by the legal aid centre RIC, which polled 2,100 households.

In Noord-Holland, where 15% of households say they have disagreements with their neighbours, the noise made by children is the biggest irritant. Building projects, barbecues and pets are other main bones of contention.