The Netherlands ranks best in security and freedom, infrastructure and health.

The evaluation is based on the cost of living, cultural and entertainment offerings, the environment and climate, safety, health, infrastructure and economic situation.

France is the first for the fifth consecutive time and receives a score of 82 points out of 100. “La Douce France ‘is praised for his” bon-vivant’ lifestyle, good health and the enormous diversity of the different regions.

Live in Australia it is good because of the pleasant climate, cities for all tastes, and a strong economy. Switzerland is number three and owes its place among others, its neutrality and the extensive internationalization.

The top 10 is rounded out by Germany, New Zealand, Luxembourg, the United States, Belgium, Canada and Italy.

Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Chad, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia are on the bottom of the list.

While for young Dutch people up to 24 years the proportion is about 90% for using the Internet daily. This leaves other countries behind the Netherlands, while Sweden, Denmark and Luxembourg also rank high.

In the 27 EU countries, 65% of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2009, compared with 60% during the first quarter of 2008, and 56% had a broadband internet connection in 2009, compared with 49% in 2008. In the Netherlands, 90% of Dutch households have internet access.

The number of broadband connections is growing steadily, from 49% of households last year to 56% in 2009. The Netherlands top the list with 77% of broadband connections.

Nearly 40% of Europeans are shopping online, 63% of Dutch people shop online. Online shopping is most popular in the UK, 66% purchased goods or services over the Internet.

Booking a holiday online is most popular. Secondly, the purchase of clothing and sports products.

Remarkable is the fact that many high educated people are more online than lower educated. While 87% of the high educated use the internet at least once a week, and only 38% of the less educated.

The study shows we spend more hours staring at screens than doing anything else. But are we losing something profoundly human in all those texts, tweets and chats?

In the first ever detailed ranking of 60 of the world’s financial hubs, published today by the international research agency Tax Justice Network (TJN), The Netherlands ranks 15th of the 60 financial “tax havens” in the world.

Delaware in the US is officially the world’s most secret financial location. Delaware was found wanting in 11 out of 12 secrecy indicators. London was also ranked in the top five most secretive jurisdictions.

The researchers looked in particular to banking secrecy, the transparency of financial legislation and the degree of financial activities abroad. The Dutch Antilles are ranked at the 38th place in the “Financial Secrecy Index”. The most important tax haven is the U.S. state of Delaware, followed by Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, the city of London, Ireland, Bermuda, Singapore, Belgium and Hong Kong.

In the fight against tax evasion Tax Justice Network calls for international regulation including the automatic exchange of financial information.