Every year, the European Commission releases its Flash Eurobarometer of quality of life in European cities, a huge survey of how happy people in hundreds of major cities across Europe are.
The survey asks people to rank their satisfaction with everything from the cleanliness of their city and the amount of green space, to how safe it is.
We took the European Commission's data and chose those cities where the highest percentage of citizens said they were "very satisfied with the life they lead" and ranked them. In other words, we found out where in Europe people are happiest with their lives.
You might think that Europe's biggest, most vibrant metropolises like Paris, Rome, Berlin, and London are where people enjoy life most, but in general it is actually smaller, less busy cities, where people are at their happiest.
Check out the list below.
17. Amsterdam — 52% very satisfied, 41% satisfied. One of just a handful of capital cities on this list, Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals, museums, and the fact that everyone rides a bike. Maybe that is why they are all so happy.
16. Stockholm — 52% very satisfied, 43% satisfied. People of Stockholm take the award for the second happiest in Sweden, with only 3% of people saying they are dissatisfied with their lives.
15. Antwerp — 52% very satisfied, 45% satisfied. Antwerp is the biggest city in the Flanders region of Belgium, home to 500,000 people. More than half of those surveyed said they were "very satisfied" with their lives, making it the happiest city in Belgium.
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