I think the Dutch have a good outlook on work vs. play. They work short hours compared to the rest of the world, but they still seem to get the jobs done. It makes for a happier life....

By John | February 2, 2010 3:58 PM

Maybe it is that the dutch people are the most brainwashed people in Europe?

By Brainwash | February 2, 2010 6:25 PM

Look at the number of frowning, grumpy people on the spoor at say Lelylaan or Schiphol on any given day... Who'd they poll? Millionaires? Retirees? C'mon...

By Patrick | February 2, 2010 6:27 PM

Dutch people might be satisfied but I beg to differ that they are actually happy.

By Carolyn O'Rourke | February 2, 2010 9:39 PM

Mind you, it says the Dutch. I can only assume that, John, Brainwash and O'Rourke, are expats in the Netherlands; if they live there at all.

One thing I noticed when living in the Netherlands were that the Dutch are very happy, but the expats constantly complained about almost everything.

There is a few bureaucratic things that keeps me from wanting to move back, but beyond that I enjoyed living there.

By xen | February 3, 2010 9:05 AM

It is true that one never really hears many Dutch people complaining. But whether this is because there are no problems in their lives or because there is something in the national character which makes them accept problems and not dwell on them is debatable.
It is like asking are people on Prozac 'happy'?

By Geuzen76 | February 3, 2010 9:07 AM

I have to agree with both Brainwash and Carolyn.

By kikki | February 3, 2010 9:09 AM

Not exactly wise to judge all of the Netherlands on how you personally feel.

And besides, it's all relative...maybe it's just that they are MORE unhappy elsewhere, not deliriously happy here.

By CW | February 3, 2010 9:43 AM

Perhaps its the Prozac in the mains water that helps.

By anonymous | February 3, 2010 10:15 AM

It's that inbred Calvinist thing: Adam was the original sinner, we're the sons of Adam, so we don't deserve to enjoy this mortal life. The Dutch don't think they deserve happiness, so don't expect it, so aren't disappointed by all the shortcomings here.

Not a healthy way to view the world, but there you have it.

By YoMamma | February 3, 2010 10:34 AM

When 80% dutch adults high on marihuana, so there are no doubts about " Happy Poeple"

By Michael | February 3, 2010 10:37 AM

Brainwashed is one thing. But that is not it. Having lived in a wide variety of countries, I would say the reason they are "happy" is because they are passive. Everything they do is someone else's problem, never theirs! It is called Irresponsibility! Have you ever known a responsible person who is passive?

And never hear them complaining? What? That is the foundation of this culture, they make complaining a daily sport.

Lived in Denmark for many years too, they are the same but worse. Biggest difference is Danish are careless with money and the Dutch are cheap.

By Tim | February 3, 2010 10:41 AM

You only have to take part in the Limburg carnaval. For three to four days the dutch residents go into an estatic frenzy of glee and when it's over they are back to their old "happy?" selves. It's eerie.

By AW | February 3, 2010 10:48 AM

If I lived near a coffeeshop I would be very happy all the time

By Bobke | February 3, 2010 11:24 AM

What gets me is nowhere in the report that I can see does it say "happy". It says "satisfied". NL now scores a 5.9, which is 0.9 above "fairly satisfied". Average housing costs in relation to disposable income? over 32%!, roughly tied with UK for the highest, and public expectations is that it will get worse (all of EU does).

Maybe the authors were on Prozac.

By DH | February 3, 2010 11:36 AM

This article is incorrect. I checked the link and it clearly states that #1 on this list is Denmark, not Sweden.

By LJK | February 3, 2010 12:28 PM

The fact lies with the statement that a selfish person rarely feels sad. Moreover, you may also be happier if you have no big ambitions - if your demand is little, your feeling of unhapiness would also be insignificant !

By P Chatterjee | February 3, 2010 3:34 PM

I am happy that the Dutch are happy. We need happy people around

By Michael | February 3, 2010 6:15 PM

Wow. A lot of unhappy expats here. Maybe you guys should learn from the Dutch, you obviously need it.

By xen | February 3, 2010 10:55 PM

OMG get me a bucket.

Dutch people the happiest.
Dutch children the happiest.
Dutch give most to charity.
Dutch medical system top in Europe
NL one of the top places to live.

Why all this propaganda, I wonder? It is constant. Never seen a country that constantly has to pat itself on the back. Worse than the US.

Take a look at this place, for God's sake--the social problems, the cesspit drug, sex, racial mess they created. Poor transport, crap infrastructure, privatized mail system a joke, a ridiculous housing bubble, high prices for everything, overcrowded, little access to nature, real nature where there aren't millions of people pushing at you.

By deprogrammer | February 4, 2010 9:54 AM

wowowow people just hold on a second!!! don't criticize too harshly , its all a joke, its just a statement... a free speech.. get it?

By Zen | February 4, 2010 3:47 PM

I'd like to ask this dude to get back on his treatment.

"Take a look at this place,
the social problems" - give me three of them. Childcare paid by state (broadly talking), pensions paid and aged people can afford some living (be it BMW or medicine).
"The cesspit drug, sex, racial mess they created." Its mess only for those who manage to mess in it. Havent heard any extraordinary sex related mess, drugs under control and with much less abuse than ANYwhere else, racial - gee man, you seem not to know the meaning of it. Ofcourse some are xenofobic and will put all problems on skin color, but dude, go to Germany, Italy, Poland or if you dare to Russia. Rasism there is almost a national policy (no offense to representatives of these countries).
Poor transport, crap infrastructure, - now seriously take the blue and red pill today! Which country has such infrastucture? Japan or Singapore maybe,
Privatized mail system a joke - if you still use post as such, maybe you have some problems. My parcels arive overnight and if postbox is emptied on Sunday, 2nd day of Christmass its kinda awesome!
A ridiculous housing bubble- where? House prices correspond to available housing market and demand. Bubble, when the prices rise just because and new property is planted everywhere with no financial reasoning (check Irish or Latvian property markets) havent seen it here.
High prices for everything, according to pricing indexes, its barelly in the middle here. Food is affordable, diesel fuel 20% cheaper than in Germany or Scandinavia (petrol not though), clothing in line with region, "overcrowded, little access to nature, real nature where there aren't millions of people pushing at you" - try Siberia. You must love it. Must be not your spot here.

NL has some cons, but take what it gives and skip the rest. Life's life everywhere.

By Jon | February 5, 2010 10:47 AM

jon more or less i agree.However, house prices are EXTREMELY expensive compared to salaries at least in NL.that is why many people buy houses in germany at least those in the bordees. Fuel of the MOST expensive in the world..you say diesel..how about the yearly tax that diesel cars pay??? 2X times the petrol and of the HIGHEST in europe.not to mention traffic jams and huge delays..as for the trains with 1mm of snow!!!! everything is halted. for the hospitals because i work in one..research is AMAZING, however normal daily routine i ll just name it INEFFICIENT in order not to use other words, and i have worked in UK, germany and sweden..and i can compare.

By kos | February 6, 2010 9:45 AM

I am from asia. The life here is alot different from my home country. People here like parties and drinking, but they can complete their work on time. That's amazing. They can balance their wroking and personal life.

By amanda | February 8, 2010 11:18 PM