Almost 7,000 more babies were born during the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period last year, statistics agency CBS has said.

The CBS expects some 180,000 children in total will be born this year, the highest number since 2011.

New parents were more often in their 30s than in previous years but women under 25 had fewer babies. The number of second and third children also increased.

The CBS said the rise, although substantial, does not mean the Netherlands is seeing a baby boom. ‘A small corona effect’ may be at the bottom of it, the CBS said.