The Netherlands officially snagged the top spot as the best country in Europe to live your best twenty-something life, while Italy landed at the bottom.
Chasing big dreams, while figuring out this whole adulting thing? Let’s see how young people in the Netherlands are doing just that. 👇
Earn more, learn more
Researchers from Alorix, an app focused on travel and culture, analysed the flexibility, stability and cultural awareness of young people in EU countries.
Their ranking uses six key criteria:
- 💸 Rent affordability: The percentage of salaries spent on rent (in the capital, not the center — they’re being realists).
- 🍔 Big Mac per salary: A greasy but telling measure of purchasing power, bigger bucks get more Big Macs.
- 🚨 Crime prevalence: Because high crime means a lower quality of life for young people.
- 🎓 Education level: All about access — how many young people are rocking at least a Bachelor’s degree?
- 💼 Job opportunities: More jobs + steadier paychecks = potential savings from a young age.
- 😊 Happiness index: Because thriving beats just surviving, especially in your 20s.
What the Netherlands gets right
The Dutch regularly place in the top five across the board: education, employment, happiness and Big Macs.
Over half of young adults in the Netherlands have a Bachelor’s degree, and the rate of youth unemployment is just 3.64%.
READ MORE: The Netherlands ranks 5th happiest country in the world, apparently
As for those burger economics — Dutchies can buy a whopping 533 Big Macs per paycheck. 🍔
This explains their impressive happiness score: life’s pretty lekker when you’re educated, employed, and still brunching your way through the weekend.
House prices spoil the party…
Ah, rent — the Dutch Achilles’ heel. 💔
For young people in the Netherlands, 54.42% of their average salary goes to the landlord.
READ MORE: The student housing nightmare: a tale of discrimination, fraud, and protest
This puts them in the top five worst European countries regarding rental affordability, along with Ireland and Portugal.
So yes, you might afford hundreds of Big Macs, but you’ll probably be munching them in bed. There’s no space for extra seating in your overpriced studio. 💁♀️
If you’re packing your bags or calling the Netherlands home, spill the tea in the comments below! 💬
