In January, the European Commission dropped its yearly Flash Eurobarometer of quality of life in European cities, a huge survey of how happy people in hundreds of cities across Europe are.
The survey asks people to rank their satisfaction with everything from the sports facilities available in their area to how good the public transport system is.
We took the European Commission's data and chose those cities where the highest percentage of citizens said they were "very satisfied with the life they lead" and ranked them. In other words, we found out where in Europe people are happiest with their lives.
You might think that Europe's biggest, most vibrant metropolises like Paris, Rome, and London are where people enjoy life most, but in general it's actually smaller, less busy cities, where people are at their happiest.
Check out the list below.
19. Essen — 51% very satisfied, 42% satisfied. Citizens of the northwestern city, the ninth largest in Germany, are some of the most satisfied in Europe. Famous sites in the city include the botanical garden, and a huge outdoor pool, used during Germany's surprisingly hot summers.

18. Manchester — 52% very satisfied, 40% satisfied. A former industrial powerhouse, and the spiritual home of George Osborne's "Northern Powerhouse". Manchester's citizens are the third most satisfied people in Britain.

17. Amsterdam — 52% very satisfied, 41% satisfied. One of just a handful of capital cities on this list, Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals, museums, and the fact that everyone rides a bike. Maybe that's why they're all so happy.

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