4. Amsterdam, Netherlands
The city best known for its canals and skinny houses is also in the top 5 of places to live in Europe. Amsterdam is home to many famous locations, including the Anne Frank Huis, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, and the canal boats. With a truly unique setting and culture, Amsterdam is certainly a city to consider for many new residents.
Happiness: 16th
Historical Landmarks: 9th
Sports: 16th
Schools and Education: 21st
Governmental Stability: 7th
Crime: 24th
Healthcare: 9th
Affordability: 45th
Food: 5th
Innovation: 8th
Pollution: 15th
Climate: 33rd
Overall Average: 17.33
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, Amsterdam is firmly within the top half of cities in terms of the pleasure of their citizens.
Historical Landmarks: Amsterdam has multiple UNESCO World Heritage cities very close to the city itself, including the Droogmakerij de Beemster and the Dutch water defense lines, in addition to the canal ring within the city being a site.
Sports: Amsterdam is currently home to only one club in the Dutch league, which is in the top 7 of European leagues, but that club is the most successful in the history of the country, that being Ajax.
Schools and Education: With two universities in the top 100 worldwide, Amsterdam certainly has strong options for higher education, which include University of Amsterdam at 39 and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam at 82.
Crime: In Amsterdam, crime is fairly low, and although drugs are heavily used, their widespread legality in the country means that drugs often banned in other countries are perfectly fine in Amsterdam, though vandalism can occasionally be an issue.
Affordability: Amsterdam has a cost of living index at 74.28, meaning it’s up there with the most expensive cities in Europe, which is something to be mindful of combined with the other aspects of life in the city.
Food: 23 restaurants in Amsterdam have at least 1 Michelin star, meaning the city is amongst the top 5 for high quality dining experiences.
Pollution: A pollution index score of 30.43 means that Amsterdam is well above average in terms of clean air in their cities and minor pollution issues.
Climate: Amsterdam reaches the high 60s and low 70s (F) in summer months, while in the winter, it can be found in the mid 30s to low 40s in Fahrenheit.
Personal Note: As far as major cities in Europe are concerned, Amsterdam is one of the most noticeably distinct due to its famous canal systems that form the backbone of the city. I was able to visit Amsterdam in Summer 2022, and these canals transform the city’s atmosphere. I found that for most of the day, Amsterdam was extremely peaceful and clean, which was emphasized when walking around the canal neighborhoods with trees lining the bike and walking ways between the skinny houses and people’s boats. By night, however, the Red Light district and the prevalent drug availability becomes much more clear, as the city feels much more crowded and energetic at such hours. All that’s to say that Amsterdam has a wide range of opportunities regardless of age or interests. Some of my other favorite experiences in the city included the very emotional Anne Frank Huis, the Van Gogh Museum, and a canal boat tour at night. Amsterdam is truly one of the most satisfying cities to just take a walk around, as there’s so much beauty to see while also being extremely pedestrian-friendly. It remains one of my favorite cities in Europe, and its uniqueness makes it worth a visit alone, along with clearly being a great option for a place to live according to this list.
