From a summer fling to the real deal, the appeal of a European romance is easy to understand. But where to go to look for love on this vast and varied continent? Read on to discover just where your true love might lie:
If you like them… brainy
… try Finland. It was the only European country to rank in the top 5 of a recent OECD global education list, thanks to its unconventional approach to schooling that see its eschewing league tables, inspections and exams in favour of a more rounded education.
If you like them… beautiful
… then it’s Italy. Of course it is Italy. Passion. Gelato. Scooters and wine. Who could resist?
If you like them… tall
… then the Netherlands is for you. Towering at an average height of 6 ft, Dutch men are the tallest in the world – so tall, in fact, that the Government had to recently update its building regulations to make sure they could continue to fit through doorways.
If you like them… with an accent
… then it has to be Irish. Every time.
If you like them… feminist
… then go to pretty much any of the Nordic countries. The gender gap is small, women have political, cultural and economic power, childcare is often split both ways – and what’s more, the men there have been raised in a culture where this is the norm. No macho crap on mansplaining for you!
If you like them… rich
… then Luxembourg is your best bet. It’s has the second highest GDP per capita in the world at nearly $80,000, making it second to only Qatar. Probably because nearly everyone is a banker.
If you like them… wholesome
… then it has to be Iceland. They work out to beat the winter blues, have life expectancies in the early-mid 70s, breathe the world’s least polluted air and generally top the charts for all round good health.
If you like them… horny
… it’s Finland again. Apparently they have the highest rates of one-night stands in Europe. Brainy and sexually liberated – it’s getting better by the minute…
If you like them… religious
… then you are spoilt for choice depending on your beliefs. The population of Malta is 94% Roman Catholic; around 90% of Cypriots and Romanians identify as Orthodox; and 99.8% of Turkish citizens are Muslim.
If you like them… female
… then you might want to head to Spain. According to a Pew Research Centre poll, 94% of Spaniards find homosexuality ‘morally acceptable’ (more than any other nationality). Furthermore, Spain legalised same-sex marriage way back in 2005, and its annual Pride parade in Madrid in one of the biggest and best in the world – watch out for the 2015 World Gay Pride event next year…
Have you found love in Europe? Share your stories below.
1 Comment
I have to recommend Nordic men. You are spot on about the gender gap. It is a common sight to see dads pushing their kids around the park in their strollers, or to attend parent-teacher interviews while mum is working.
Since being with a Swede, I now find the general attitude of many (but, by no means all) British guys a huge turn-off. Even when they don’t think they’re being offensive (“Just joking, love, Don’t be so uptight!”) they can be incredibly sexist. Swedes are into sport as much as any man, but it’s not often they’ll put it before their woman. I once heard someone say that if a Swedish man falls in love with you, he’ll love you forever. I hope it’s true 🙂