All three national free titles in the Netherlands cut their circulation in 2009, Newspaper Innovation reported Wednesday.

Metro continues to be the market leader with 506,000 copies, a 5 percent decrease compared to 2008. Spits' circulation is down 3 percent to 417,000, and De Pers is down to an average of 220,000 copies, compared to 367,000 in 2008. The average year-on-year drop in paid circulation was 3 percent, according to HOI auditing data.