The invention describes a light converting device comprising: a light converter for converting laser light to converted light, the light converter comprising a light entrance surface, a bonding surface opposite to the light entrance surface and a side surface; a substrate carrying the light converter and comprising a reflective structure for reflecting laser light and converted light; a reflective side structure optically coupled to the side surface of the light converter and for reflecting laser light and converted light; a cooling element attached to the reflective side structure for cooling the reflective side structure, wherein the cooling element comprises material which is transparent in the wavelength range of the laser light and the wavelength range of the converted light, and wherein the cooling element is arranged in an optical path of the laser light, an optical path of reflected laser light and an optical path of the converted light, and a decoupling structure between the light converter and the cooling element for avoiding light guiding of the reflected laser light and the converted light in the cooling element. The invention further describes a light emitting element, a laser-based light source comprising such a light converting device or such a light emitting device, and a vehicle headlight comprising one or more laser-based light sources.