Danish culture

Let's talk about Danish Culture

WHAT ARE DANES LIKE?

very liberal views on sex, religion and politics compared to most Europeans
rule-bound and complying with the norms is important and appreciated
most Danes are outspoken and direct, honest about what they think.
wealth in Denmark is equally distributed, so there are relatively few billionaires or really poor people. Consequently bragging is unusual and socially unacceptable
Danes love humour and it is a central part of Danish culture:
- Comedians make fun of famous people, and even the royal family
- Irony is an important part of Danish humour and conversation, which may take some time getting used to for internationals
Danes may not initiate small talk with strangers themselves, but Danes are polite and will engage in conversation if they are spoken to

SOCIAL & CULTURAL VALUES

altruism is a core value in Denmark. Danes are quite generous with those in need all around the world, so they often do volunteer work or simply donate money for charities
increasingly concerned about global issues, so they buy fair trade and environmentally friendly products and recycle more than the European average.

SOCIALISING CULTURE IN DENMARK

Danes have a reputation for being reserved and difficult to connect with outside the office. They may not believe in superficial friendships, but they do collect friends who are close and loyal, so don’t hold back
socialising in Denmark is generally casual, as Danes prefer to skip formalities
punctuality is extremely important
seeing friends: they usually agree where and when to meet, instead of showing up unannounced
Most work places organise get-togethers a couple of times a year, especially around summer and christmas, where employees and managers can have fun and get to know each other across departments.

THE “HYGGE” CONCEPT

FACTS ABOUT DANISH CULTURE:

Denmark is historically a monarchic country. In fact, it has one of the oldest kingdoms in the world
the state religion of Denmark is Lutheran Protestantism and 79% of Danes are members of the National Church. However, most Danes do not consider themselves religious
modern design is an intrinsic part of Danish culture. Many Danish products are considered design icons of the 20th century, such as the egg chair by Arne Jacobsen and the PH-lamp by Poul Henningsen
the most internationally recognised Danish architect is Jørn Utzon, who designed the iconic Opera House in Sydney
the most famous contributor to Danish literature is the fairy tale author and poet Hans Christian Andersen
the Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen is the most popular cultural attraction in Denmark