The number of vacation homes sold in the Netherlands increased by 20 percent last year, according to data the Dutch association of realtors NVM released on Monday. In 2015 the the number of holiday homes sold doubled, NU.nl reports.
According to NVM, the continuing trend can be attributed to the low interest rates. As savings yield hardly anything at the moment, more people choose to invest their money into a second home.
A large fire broke out in a vacation home in the Hommelheide resort in Susteren around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Four people were injured, three of whom had to be taken to hospital for further treatment, De Limburger reports.
The fire broke out in a chalet on Hommelweg. The chalet was inhabited by seven foreign workers, according to the newspaper. Six of them managed to escape the fire unaided. Firefighters had to find and bring out the seventh resident.
The fire was under control around 6:30 a.m. The home completely burnt down and can be considered lost.
The rent for the two strips of land around the Greek vacation home of King Willem-Alexander and his family has already cost the Dutch state €461,000. This land was used for a security fence, and the money was paid to a neighbor, according to RTL Nieuws.
Parliament wants clarification from the Cabinet about how much the Dutch state has invested into the Greek vacation villa of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Local media claims that "illegal building" occurred on the grounds, bought by the Dutch state.
