The world’s first museum dedicated to the concept of happiness has been opened in the beautiful historic centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. This attraction is part of the Happiness Research Institute - an independent think-tank that explores the science behind why some societies are happier than others. Their goal is to encourage global leaders to include wellbeing as an integral part of public policy. According to the institute’s director Meik Wiking, “We wanted to create a place where people could experience happiness from different perspectives, and perhaps become a little bit wiser.”

The museum gives visitors an overview of global happiness by showing how perceptions of it have changed throughout history, and why some countries have more of it than others. People from around the world have sent in artefacts that represent joyto them. These displays help visitors to understand what happiness looks and feels like in other countries. Wiking says that the Institute’s studies consistently show that we humans are incredibly resilient. “When we follow people over time, we see that they are remarkable at overcoming the challenges that they face.”