Crowdfunding websites have raised more than €275m in the Netherlands so far this year – according to website Crowdfundmarkt.

This is already €10m more than in 2018, with two months still to go. The research is based on projects listed on crowdfunding platforms which are registered with the Dutch financial services authority AFM.

In total, almost 2,900 initiatives have brought in money this year, up over 1,000 on last year.

Property-based crowdfunding projects have taken 18% of the total so far, followed by energy-based projects and service initiatives.

In May, the Financieele Dagblad reported that investors who based their strategy on investing via crowdfunding platforms often earn lower returns than those promised by the platforms.

Figures from comparison website crowdfundingcijfers.nl show that platforms offer an average return of 8.9% but in reality the average return on investment is closer to 5.2%, the paper said.