The Dutch unemployment rate rose for the first time in 5.5 years in the third quarter of this year, according to new figures from national statistics office CBS.

In total, 319,000 people were officially classified as unemployed in the three months to end September, a rise of 14,000 on the second quarter and taking the official jobless rate to 3.4%.

The unemployment total is one of a string of economic figures published by the CBS on Thursday which, the agency says, point to a slightly less rosy picture than a month ago.

Nevertheless, GDP grew 0.4% in the third quarter, in line with growth in the previous two, producer and consumer confidence were largely unchanged and investments, exports and the number of jobs continue to grow.