Denmark

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another while maintaining direct eye contact. A firm but fairly brief handshake is the norm. With friends, a simple hello will suffice.

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands while maintaining direct eye contact. Between good friends, a single kiss on the cheek is becoming more and more common. If you have not seen someone in a long time, a light hug is common.

Greetings between Men & Women- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. With friends and people that you see often, a simple hello will suffice. Good friends may engage in a single kiss on the cheek. This tends to be more common for younger generations.

Communication Style

• The Danish communication style tends to fluctuate between direct and indirect. They value being polite and courteous so many people expect others to read between the lines and understand the subtle hints in their tone and words. On the other hand they can be very direct when it comes to stating opinions and beliefs.
• Danes tend to have very sarcastic and dry sense of humor.
• Most Danes will generally avoid any conflict or confrontation, so it’s best to avoid raising your voice or showing anger in public situations.
• Danish people are generally reserved in their demeanor. They can be considered rude and quite cold to outsiders, but once you get to know them, they are usually warm and open.

Personal Space & Touch

• Personal space depends on how well you know the person. In general it is considered rude to get too close to someone so at least an arm’s length of personal space should be maintained during conversations.
• Touching during conversations is a sign of intimacy, so if you are very close with someone, it is normal, otherwise it can be construed as insincere, invasive or out of place.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is important as a sign that you are interested in what the other person has to say.
• When drinking together, it is always important to look someone directly in the eye when you are toasting one another.

Gestures

• Danish people are generally reserved in their gestures and demeanor. They can be considered rude and quite cold to outsiders, but once you get to know them, are really open.
• High fives, thumbs up, and the giving the finger are all understood, but rarely used.

Views of Time

• Punctuality is highly valued, it important to be on time, especially in business settings.
• Transportation services usually follow a tight schedule and are almost always on time.

Gender Roles

• Equality is an important part of Danish culture and this involves women working. It is sometimes even seen as a taboo for women to not work and be stay-at-home moms.
• Women will generally take a 2-3 month maternity leave and then rely on child care until the children are old enough for school.
• Women are are accepted in all the same fields and managerial positions as men.

Taboos

• The "O.K" sign with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle may be interpreted as an insult.
• The "V" sign for "victory" or “peace” is shown with the palm facing outward. If the palm is facing inward the sign becomes a rude gesture to some.
• Raising the middle finger to someone is considered a rude gesture.

Law & Order

• There is no legal drinking age and the culture around alcohol is extremely relaxed. It is normal to start drinking after confirmation, around the age of 12 or 13.
• One can officially buy alcohol in shops at the age of 16, however this is not enforced and minors generally do not have a problem buying alcohol.
• To buy alcohol at a bar, you should be 18, but adults can easily buy you a drink with no consequence since there is no drinking age. If a bar is proven to have sold a minor an alcoholic beverage, then can be fined.
• The attitude around smoking has changed drastically in the past couple years; it used to be quite common but now it is very rare to smoke in public, especially since the recently adopted law bans smoking in all public places.
• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Dress

• Danes value being well dressed and nicely groomed.
• For Men: Conservative, dark or medium colored suits with shirt and tie are acceptable. Shoes should be nicely polished
• For Women: Stylish yet conservative business suits or dresses/skirts and blouses. Pantsuits are also acceptable.
• Accessories are usually worn, but it's best to stay on the subtle side. Wearing anything overly flashy or expensive will most likely be looked down upon.
• Jeans and other casual attire are generally not acceptable in business situations.

Titles & Business Cards

• It is best to call someone using Mr.(Herr), Mrs.(Fru), or Miss(Froken) followed by the last name.
• Most people greet one another by their first name but it is best to wait until being invited to use the first name..
• There is no specific protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards. It is always best to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• For meetings, one must be on time. Being late is looked down upon heavily.
• Meetings generally follow an agenda agreed upon in advance that is adhered to strictly.
• There is usually not much time allotted for small talk. Danes tend to prefer to get down to business and be efficient with their time.
• It is usually considered rude to interrupt someone while they are speaking.

Negotiations

• Decisions tend to be made by group consensus and may take awhile to be reached.
• Danes do not tend to display anger or other emotions in public situations, so it is best to remain calm during the negotiation process.
• Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation. Danes tend to respond much better to the honest straight forward approach.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are generally not brought to an initial meeting.
• If invited to a Danish home, it is appropriate to bring a nice bottle of wine, liquor, or good chocolates/sweets.
• It’s a good idea to have gifts nicely wrapped and expect them to be opened right away.

In the Classroom

• The school year at most universities begins around September 1st and ends in June. There are vacation for Christmas, Easter and summer.

• Students can dress as they like at most all schools. However, there are several stereotypes. For example, girls studying law will often be dolled-up, with lots of make-up and fancy cloths. Anthropology or sociology students, on the other hand, will most often be wearing sweaters and more casual attire.

• Grades are based on a scale from 0-12, with 12 being exceptional. A score of 5 is needed to pass, but that is just barely squeaking by.

• Teaching style depends on the subject and level. For example, introductory anthropology classes will usually be large lectures but upper level biology labs will be smaller and more specialized.

• School is free for Danes and most students receive a monthly stipend to help pay for scholastic material and lodging.

Other Observations

• Denmark has a rich cultural and intellectual heritage; it's a good idea to take some time and get to know the local culture and history.