Some 46,000 houses and apartments came onto the market between July and September – the highest number since 2008 – according to new figures from the estate agents’ association NVM.

In total, 41,800 properties were sold in the third quarter of the year, at an average price of €496,000, a rise of 4.8% on a year ago. Prices rose fastest in the northern and southern border regions, while in Amsterdam they fell by 0.3%, the second consecutive quarterly decline in the capital.

The NVM said the sale of rental properties, which many landlords are offloading due to new regulations and higher taxes, continues to influence the market, particularly in Amsterdam. More smaller, relatively affordable apartments are being put up for sale, which is helping to slow overall price growth.

Demand for new-build homes also remains strong, the organisation said. While prices are similar to those a few years ago, new homes have become smaller: the average new apartment now measures 73 square metres and costs €425,000, compared with 94 square metres for a similar price in 2021. Balconies have also shrunk.

Lana Goutsmits-Gerssen, head of the NVM’s residential property division, urged politicians to take more effective action to address the housing shortage ahead of the general election.

“The market doesn’t need promises, but policy that works,” she said. “The figures show that too few homes are being built, the rental market is seizing up and affordability remains under pressure.”