Exports of Dutch products to Britain were up 24% in the first three months of this year, when compared with the same period in 2020, according to national statistics agency CBS.

Oil and gas, and flowers and plants accounted for the biggest increases, the CBS figures show.

When compared with the same period in 2019 – pre Brexit and pre coronavirus – the figures indicate that exports of Dutch products this year are stable so far.

However, throughput – goods which are moved through the Netherlands in transit for Britain – was down 26% in the first quarter compared with 2020 and 37% down on 2019.

Britain is the Netherlands’ second most important trading partner after Germany.

Research by the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce last month showed that  around a quarter of Dutch companies have faced complications and extra costs in exporting to Britain since Brexit.

Overall the export of Dutch goods and services was up 8% in the first quarter, when compared with the first three months of 2020.