Ruut Veenhoven was a pioneer in the scientific study of human happiness. His first publication on the subject was in 1970, when he studied sociology at Erasmus University of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. In 1984 he reviewed the available research in 'Conditions of Happiness'. This work laid the basis for the World Database of Happiness, which is on the internet since 1999. Veenhoven was a founding editor of the Journal of Happiness Studies" that is published since 2000.

After his study of sociology, Ruut Veenhoven teached social psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam. In 1995 he was appointed professor of Humanism at Utrecht University and in 2000 he became professor of social conditions for human Happiness at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Since 2011 he was also a special professor at North-West University in South Africa. After reaching age 65 in 2007 Veenhoven continued his research on happiness as an emeritus professor, working in the newly established Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization EHERO.

The intellectual legacy of Ruut Veenhoven will be kept publicly available by the Foundation for the Study of Happiness (Stichting Studie Geluk). The last version of his World Database of Happiness will be stored in the Library of Erasmus University Rotterdam and will remain accessible on the internet. Options for the continuation of this source are found here.

Information about his publications can be found at ORCID: 0000-0002-5159-393X

In memoriam by Prof.dr. Victor Bekkers and Prof. dr. Laura den Dulk can be found at the website of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Web design: Henk de Heer, text processing: Joop Mulder
Last update: December 2024