Herman, fishing for happiness in Thailand
While I was quietly enjoying my diet coke, an unknown gentleman came to stand at my table with the grace of an older panther. Before I knew it, he had taken a seat and turned out to be a loyal reader of Thailandblog. He wanted to share his special life story with me, from his departure to Thailand to the ups and downs of an adventurous existence.
The population of Thailand has become slightly happier compared to last year, moving up one place. The country is now ranked 60th in the World Happiness Report 2023, while Finland maintains its position as the happiest country in the world for the sixth year in a row.
Good Luck the Thai way
Nowhere in the world have I met more people who believe so intensely that they can influence happiness as in Thailand.
This year, the Netherlands is fifth in the list of happiest countries in the world and has even risen one place. Belgium is in 18th place, Thailand is also doing well with place 52, according to the World Happiness Report 2019 of the United Nations.
CBS: Many Dutch people feel very happy
More than a fifth of the Dutch population aged 18 or older considers themselves very happy. On a scale of 1 to 10, they rate their happiness with a 9 or 10. On the other hand, a small minority of less than 3 percent consider themselves unhappy. They rate their level of happiness with a 4 or less.
Not a scratch on my moped in Pattaya
In all the years that I have been on holiday in Thailand, I have traveled a lot of kilometers with a rental car. Crossed the north and east of the country frequently and have never suffered a scratch or dent. And that means a lot in this country.
Nine out of ten Dutch people consider themselves lucky
Almost nine out of ten adults in the Netherlands say they are happy and 3 percent unhappy. The percentage that is happy has been stable since 2013. Working people are more often happy than benefit recipients. Statistics Netherlands announced this yesterday on the international day of happiness.
34% Dutch people concerned about their own finances
The importance of financial care is great. For example, it has a stronger correlation with happiness than income itself, but also, for example, than the number of friends someone says they have. More than a third of the Dutch are concerned about their own financial situation.
The Dutch are among the happiest people in the world
The Netherlands is once again in sixth place of the happiest countries in the world. According to this UN ranking, residents of Finland are the happiest. Belgium occupies 16th place and Thailand is in 46th place.
Reader question: Throwing booze on the street for luck?
I regularly see Thai people throwing liquor on the street for good luck or something, I understand. But can someone explain to me in detail how exactly this works? Should they do this once a day or with every drink? For example, is it weird if I, as a tourist, would also do this? And what happiness does it bring? For that day or forever?