Socializing with Danes

Start with a cultural understanding
The first thing you need to learn about Danish people is their tendency to do things the right way and expect others to do the same. Local society is built on mutual respect and display of basic decency, so avoid being inconsiderate towards people you meet. Danish culture is best explained by its comparative lack of flashiness and disapproval of ostentation, snobbery or “show-off-ness”, putting society ahead of the individual, not boasting about individual accomplishments or being jealous of others.

You must also understand how Danes think; their humor, sarcasm and straight forwardness. Danish humor is often described as sarcastic and dry. They make fun of almost everything; politicians, gender, sex, even their own children. Danes are much more blunt than most people. But, to understand Danish humor, you need a good grasp on the Danish language, otherwise things would get completely ‘lost in translation’.

Talk the talk, walk the walk
No matter how long you’re planning on being in Denmark, learning Danish will make every day life easier. A basic understanding is enough to make a difference.

Get out of your comfort zone
Danes take friendship very seriously and it’s all about trust. A friendship is also considered a lifetime commitment and they prioritise this in their social life. They feel that they don’t have time for more friends, they hardly have time in their busy lives for the friends they have

It takes perseverance and patience to make Danish friends. But once you have them, they’ll be friends for life.

Interesting links:

https://www.howtoliveindenmark.com/stories-about-life-in-denmark/danish-humor/

Carlsberg / The Danish Way (https://youtu.be/w90WKDCxqic)