Local authorities gave the green light to projects to build 74,000 new homes last year, an increase of 10% on 2020 and the highest figure in 10 years.

However, national statistics office CBS said, it takes an average of two years to actually build a new residential complex once a licence has been given, so the time lag will still be considerable before they come on the market.

Most of the new permits are for owner occupier housing, and Zuid-Holland province accounts for by far the biggest proportion of the projects.

Housing minister Hugo de Jonge has told MPs that he plans to focus on six key areas in drawing up housing market strategy, and that a more centralised approach will be essential.

The minister said he plans to publish an outline of the plans before mid march, focusing on how housing construction is being accelerated and what is being done to make sure housing stock matches the housing needs.

At the same time, De Jonge said, he is working on a strategy to limit the cost of housing by protecting buyers and tenants against excesses in the housing market.