A Dutch city has been named as the third happiest city in Europe, according to the results of a survey by the European Commission. The survey asked over 70.000 people in 83 cities across the bloc about how satisfied they are with their city. 

The survey examined satisfaction across a number of metrics

The survey zoomed in on many different factors that impact the happiness and quality of life of residents across cities in the EU, EFTA, UK, the Balkans and Turkey. The report noted that the last time the survey was completed was in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that this, combined with the ongoing war in Ukraine, is likely to have impacted the satisfaction and happiness of many of their respondents. 

The report paid attention to issues such as loneliness, inclusivity, urban development, living conditions, healthcare, mobility and housing, among other things. The study found that generally, cities across Europe are perceived to me more inclusive than the country in which they are situated, and that smaller cities are perceived to be better places for older people and young families to live, rather than in larger cities.

Groningen named as third most satisfied city in Europe

The city scored particularly high for cultural offerings and markets and town squares, with Groningen ranking first for cultural facilities in all of Europe. Around 96 percent of survey respondents in Groningen are satisfied with life in their city. 

Groningen came in just behind Copenhagen, which was in second place, and Zurich in first place. The cities with the lowest satisfaction in Europe, according to the survey, are Palermo, Athens and Istanbul. 

Top 10 European cities for Quality of Life 2023

According to the EU Commission’s report, these are the top 10 cities for quality of life in Europe:

1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Groningen, the Netherlands
4. Gdańsk, Poland
5. Leipzig, Germany
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Geneva, Switzerland
8. Rostock, Germany
9. Cluj-Napoca, Romania
10. Braga, Portugal

For more information, see the EU commission's report in full. 

Thumb image credit: Wut_Moppie / Shutterstock.com