THE HAGUE, 02/11/06 - The number of internet users in the Netherlands increased from 8.9 million in 2002 to almost 11 million this year. Broadband internet in particular is on the rise.

In June, 80 percent of all Dutch households had internet. About 82 percent of these had broadband, up from just 23 percent in 2002. Of all households, two in three currently had broadband last June, the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reported yesterday.

In 2006 there are 10.9 million internet users. This is 0.2 million more than in 2005 and 2 million more than in 2002. "So the growth rate of the number of internet users is tapering off," said CBS. The Netherlands has a population of 16.3 million.

Almost all households with internet access use a PC to access the web. Seventeen percent also has internet access through their mobile phone, palmtop or games computer. About 6.6 million internet users bought goods through the internet in 2006. That is 0.7 million more than in 2005, and 3 million more than in 2002.

Over 90 percent of internet users in the Netherlands make use of email and about 40 percent use the internet for chatting, including many people under 25. Twelve percent of the internet users phoned through the internet in 2006, double the 2005 figure. Over two thirds of all internet users conclude their banking through the internet, an increase of 9 percentage points on 2005.