Dutch users sent a record number of payment requests via Tikkie last year, with both usage and average amounts increasing, according to figures from ABN Amro, which owns the app.

More than 170 million Tikkies were sent over the year, the highest total since the payment app launched, and the equivalent of €8.5 billion in cash. In total, over one billion Tikkies have been sent since the launch of the system in 2016.

The busiest day was King’s Day, when users sent almost 700,000 payment requests. Nearly as many were sent on 23 May, when most people received their holiday pay.

Splitting food bills remained the most common reason for using the app and the most frequently used description was “food”, followed by “groceries”, “lunch”, “dinner” and “pizza”.

Users also asked for higher amounts. The average Tikkie exceeded €50, up €3 compared with a year earlier.

At the same time, users sent more than one million Tikkies for amounts under €1. Many of those requests covered the cost of using a toilet on King’s Day, ABN Amro said.

More than one million people also received refunds for bottle and can deposits via Tikkie last year.