Do you consider yourself happy? What does happiness mean to you? What if it’s all a question of balance? A recent study proves that you can be a city dweller and still feel good. Published a few days ago, the NN-UGent 2025 Happiness Survey reveals that the people of Brussels top the national rankings, while rural communities usually score highest. Brussels the happiest commune in Belgium? A surprising result, but one that puts a smile on your face.
Brussels-Capital Region, happiest municipality in Belgium
Against all expectations, the Brussels-Capital Region recorded the highest happiness score in the country (6.95/10), ahead of Flanders (6.60) and Wallonia (6.42). A paradox, given that the same study points out that commune dwellers (6.65) are happier overall than city dwellers (6.42). “Happiness isn’t just a personal matter: it feeds on the environment,” explains Sara Claes, a researcher at UGent. In Brussels, cultural diversity and the density of social interaction are said to act as a bulwark against isolation, even compensating for the lack of green spaces elsewhere.
Proof of the paradox is Hasselt’s 7.48/10 score, the highest of all central cities. It achieves this score thanks to a combination of human-scale friendliness and modern infrastructure. Conversely, Mons (5.42) and Aalst (5.50) illustrate the challenges of areas where community ties are fraying. Brussels, on the other hand, comes out on top thanks to village districts such as Saint-Gilles and Woluwe, where local markets and citizen projects strengthen the social fabric.
The post-pandemic effect: fragile happiness
Five years after Covid-19, the mental well-being of Belgians remains fragile: the national score (6.58) stagnates below its pre-pandemic level (6.73). But Brussels’ famous resilience is a source of hope. “The capital absorbs shocks thanks to its ability to adapt,” analyses Sara Claes. While the number of “very happy” people has dropped from 40% to 35% since 2020, Brussels is relying on unsuspected assets:
- Increased soft mobility (streetcars, bike paths)
- Solidarity initiatives (participative grocery stores, shared gardens)
- Accessible cultural offerings (free museums on the 1st weekend of the month)
Even insurer NN, a partner in the study, recognizes that a happy life rests on three pillars – physical health, financial balance and social enrichment. A triangle that Brussels embodies despite its contrasts, proving that diversity rhymes with sustainability!