Young Dutch teenagers remain the most satisfied with life in Europe, according to a new international survey of child health and behaviour carried out by the World Health Organisation.

Dutch teens do not feel pressured by school, can talk to their parents and feel they have enough friends, the research involving 200,000 children in 39 countries showed.
In addition, efforts to cut down on teenage drinking appear to be paying off, the report showed. Whereas five years ago Dutch children aged 11 to 13 were among the biggest drinkers in the countries investigated, they now have almost the lowest consumption of alcohol. Fifteen-year-olds are around the average.
‘There has been an enormous increase in focus on teenage drinking in recent years,’ researcher Wilma Vollenbergh told the Telegraaf. ‘Hospitals take better care of drunken children and parents are stricter and more aware of the problem.
The WHO report conclusion is surprising given the rise in hospitalisation rates among teenage drunks reported by Dutch health experts last week.
Happiness
Dutch children remain the happiest in Europe and North America, with around 95% saying they are satisfied with life.
‘Social factors play an important part in this,’ Vollenbergh said. ‘Dutch children have a good relationship with their parents, family and friends. In addition, the Netherlands is a prosperous country which little social inequality.’
Dutch children are also healthy compared with their European peers, the research found. However, they do watch a lot of television, drink too many sugary drinks and don’t eat enough fruit.