Why are Dutch children ranked the happiest in the world, according to UNICEF’s 2025 study? In this video, we visit a Dutch family near Amsterdam to explore what makes childhood in the Netherlands so different from in the US.
From outdoor play in any weather, to early independence, to generous parental leave and strong family support – Dutch parenting focuses on letting kids be kids. We follow Louna, Flynn and their parents through a typical day to see how these small choices create big happiness.
How does this compare to parenting where you live? Share your thoughts in the comments!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why Dutch kids are the happiest
00:44 Morning routine: family time first
01:39 Daycare in the Netherlands
02:53 Parental leave & “Papa Day”
03:32 Outdoor culture
04:21 Bikes before cars
05:24 The role of the grandparents
06:09 The Dutch parenting formula
#dweuromaxx #parenting #netherlands
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CREDITS
Report: Jens von Larcher
Host: Hallie Rawlinson
Camera: René Heijnen
Edit: Andreas Hyronimus
Supervising Editor: Mirja Viehweger
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As a Dutch person with kids, I disagree with this statement of our kids being the happiest. Dutch society can be tough. In general the kids are happy until they enter school. Our schoolsystem is failing our kids, especially kids with any form of neurodivergence. Kids have to attend daycare because both parents have to work a lot because everything is expensive. Kids suffer from high anxiety and depression, so do the overworked parents but they will pretend everything is fine. The Netherlands is a neat little country but there is much room for improvement.
I am a dutch parent and I actually think the biggest reason children are so happy here, is because we take them seriously. We listen to what they have they say, what they think and want
I am a dutch parent and I’m sad for all the children going to daycare sooo much. Parents just work work work to pay mortgage. I’m lucky enough to be at home with my children most of the time, when I work they go to grandma
The annoying hand flair gestures does not suit her. The "Are French kids really that well-behaved" girl in the videos hand gestures matched her vibe well.
Kinderen hebben hier een veel te grote mond en zijn veel te vrij.
Daycare is never good.
I mean, not to be negative or anything, but I don’t see children being raised in daycares as necessarily better or producing happier children.
I think having a stay at-home parent is much better. I realize that that’s not always an option here in the United States.
But I also don’t think that’s a way to measure happiness. I’m sure those young children in this video would much prefer their parents being home with them.
And other than the bicycle riding, they’re not really acting any differently than parents of young children in the United States. There are a lot of really excellent mothers and fathers here in the US, who put their children first and teach them independence and consider their developmental needs.
Im Dutch and moved to Canada at 28 yrs old. Let's just say, maternity and parental leave are way better organized than the Netherlands. The Netherlands actually ranks really really low when it comes to maternity and parental leave. Only a few years ago, it was a big discussion whether fathers could get 5 days payed off instead of 3. Also – a lot of parents (often the woman) are forced to start working parttime due to the insane high costs of daycare. Both my siblings pay more for 3 day daycare than what I do for fulltime daycare in Canada. Having more than 2 children and both parent still working is almost impossible. Due to that reason grandparents are now more important in the Netherlands, because a lot of parents rely on the grantparents to look after the grandchildren at least once a week. Nothing to do with happiness.
12:14pm 3-5-26 THUR
Stuff like this is why I plan to borrow a little bit from the ideas of many cultures. I like the French feeding style and the Japanese chore cuing with questions instead of commands. Having kids spend time outdoors and spend time with many different caregivers seems like a win. The key isn't to take control unless absolutely necessary. Teach the kid how to handle developmentally appropriate challenges. I am not following American style parenting; it seems to not help kids flourish.
Happiest? Really? Almost al kids go to daycare from 10!!!! Weeks! Kids in puberty have a LOT of psycological problems here. There is a lot of bullying in schools. Parents are working their buds of, put kids in front of the tv and after diner straight to bed.
And also, people tend to be quite harsh to children. Kids are seen as a burden.
Kids are always happiest anywhere. Read this and remember.
Once a kid learns the Concept of Space and time.
Happiness and unhapiness begins.
Can you include Armenia in the series? Armenian children tend to be very mature at a young age, and high achievers. In Armenia, the child belongs to the entire community not just the parent. I’m not sure if it’s because of her tragic history, or the fact that it’s a very old culture.
This is how parenting has always been done in Africa. Responsibility is key, you can't break things in the house as a kid and go unpunished.
American mom here. At 7:30am, I am already at work. Maybe the whole socialism for corporatations, ruthless capitalism without safety nets for everyone else isn't a good environment for kids….. duh.
i am here to learn about the dutch way of living and i already know the us sucks. stop talking about the us on this channel. im not interested.
You see your kid one hour a day and you have a strong bond?🤔
"Papa Day" 😍
Im not sure if this is accurate representation. Dutch parents mostly work and they dont spend much time with their kids. Hence, the daycare for both kids, one being a baby still… this videos are a misrepresentation do not get fooled.
Is not true. Children are beating there parents and the parents just smile like its nothing 😒
Hallie Rawlinson’s presentation style is distracting and ineffective. The constant hand gestures and irrelevant personal commentary take away from the content, and the voice-overs don’t add anything meaningful. It’s hard to see why she was chosen as the host, as she doesn’t come across as a compelling TV presenter.
Dutch kids are also racist and will make racist remarks in public like its nothing so there is that.
What a biutiful familie ❤❤
5:30 i had that kind train as a kid.
As a dutch person i find it funny that the video's about the netherlands are in english and the of other countries in there own language
Gaza,Somalia, Afghanistan and Syria are the happiest as per bbc and aljazeera UNESCO
Conveniently leaving out that the Netherlands is still 80% white and doesn’t have the same issues of problem minorities causing crime and overcrowding schools like in the US.
Ah yes. Dropping your kids off for a majority of the day to be raised by strangers that don’t love them. Great parenting.
Women, stay home and raise your kids.
Don't know what they are doing right , but Unicef is definitely doing wrong by ranking the happiness of kids.
They give them ritalin. That's their happiness. Sick society.
They are happier than Chinese children. Everyone work or study hard In China, that's why China develop quickly, but we lose happiness from it.
Day care and happiest kids in the world dont go together sorry
Thank you so much for sharing this video! As a mother currently pursuing my PhD in Happiness Studies, this perspective on Dutch parenting really resonated with me.
It was truly inspiring to see how parents from different countries navigate the joys and challenges of raising their children. Seeing their struggles and the intentional ways they empower their kids—like through "Papa day" or encouraging independence on a bicycle from such a young age—is incredibly empowering. It reinforces my belief that letting my daughter simply be a child and explore the world is one of the greatest gifts I can give her.
Such a wonderful global perspective on what it means to grow up happy!
I don't quite understand what is unique in this video. I'm portuguese, went to the Netherlands several times and most people I met were grumpy, in any city or smaller town. I loved the cycle lanes and the arquitecture and nature, I must say. But raising kids in Portugal is – from my experience – basically the same. My kid goes walking to school, knows how to bicycle for years (he's 4), playgrounds are always full of children with theirs parents or grandparents. And I see him more than during breakfast (how can a breakfast together be a good thing?? We always have breakfast together, but the good thing is we can be together after 4/5pm). He also helps cooking when he wants, which is quite often. Anyway, I don't like these generalists videos.
the parent's bike with safe carriage capacity for children is awesome.
I hate the papa day term. Especially because when my partner has her day with my son it's not called mama day.
I am a father 7 days per week. We split efforts 50/50.
Do you honestly… think this Dutch child… has no covenant from my Lord?
Oh, gosh, NO they don’t! I was abused by my brothers, but men are far more important than women so it was ignored. So much darkness…I had a miserable childhood. My father was aggressive and abusive.
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