Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam were among the top 10 most lucrative cities for investors in European real estate last year, according to research by Dutch consultancy Sweco (formerly Grontmij).

Amsterdam topped the list, generating an average return on investment of 16.4%, Sweco is quoted as saying by news agency ANP. Utrecht was third with 14.2%, The Hague came sixth with a return of 12.3% and Rotterdam 10th on 11.2%.

On average, property investments within the eurozone generated a return on investment of 9.3% last year, up from 7,9% in 2016. Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Lyon, Berlin and Porto are also in the top 10 listing.

‘In the Netherlands, investors tend to put money into logistics, offices and housing,’ Sweco consultant Laurens-Jan Portier said. ‘But construction is trailing demand so real estate is relatively safe investment for commercial companies. And prices are shooting up because of the lack of properties.’