Start a family? That is best in these countries
The Netherlands is in the top five of the best countries to raise a family, according to research by insurance company William Russel. They looked at six factors: safety, happiness, childcare costs, education, health, and maternity and paternity leave.
The Netherlands is in fifth place. We score a seven on safety, childcare costs an eight, happiness a ten, health an eight, education a seven and maternity and paternity leave a solid nine.
You have to be in these countries
Iceland is number one. The reason? Mothers get a lot of time there to spend with their newborn child. Fathers also get three months of paternity leave. Sweden, Finland and Norway share second place. In Sweden, children from the age of three are entitled to 525 free hours of playgroup every year. In Finland, the government offers paid maternity leave of four months. This applies to working mothers, but also to the self-employed, students and the unemployed. Norway scores well because of the high average income and the natural environment.
Also read: 16 tips for moving with children >
Moving with children
Are you thinking of moving abroad with your children, perhaps for one of the above reasons? A few tips.
- Involve your children in the move. Involve them in researching and preparing it and talk to them. Explain what fun the country has to offer.
- Immerse yourself in healthcare. Because health is of course the most important thing. Check in advance how care is arranged at your destination.
- Explore the possibilities in education. Do your children attend a local or international school?
- Look at the security in the country. In which neighborhoods is it nice to live? Is it safe to travel alone? Also make your children aware of any cultural differences.
Source: William Russell
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