Housing price increase jumps in January; Highest rise since 2002

Housing prices in the Netherlands were 8.8 percent higher in January than in the same month last year, the highest increase in 16 years, Statistics Netherlands and the Land Registry reported on Wednesday.

The prices of existing homes in the country have been increasing steadily since June 2013. Housing prices are now at about the same level as in January 2008.

Compared to the housing market peak in June 2008, the current housing prices are still 2 percent lower. Compared to the low point on the market in June 2013, the current prices are around 25 percent higher.

On Monday the Land Registry announced that 16,035 homes were sold in January - over 3 percent more than in January 2017.