Three Danish Customs Visitors Should Know

A former assistant director of the Village of Homewood and Lake in the Hills, Illinois, Patrick Ryan has extensive experience in building systems evaluation, infrastructure maintenance, and federal grant procurement. At Village of Homewood, he oversaw 27 employees while managing the daily operations. Beyond his work in the public sector, Patrick Ryan has traveled to more than two dozen countries and resided in Denmark for a period of time.

Danish people are well-known for their tolerance and openness to other cultures. However, if visitors want to feel truly accepted, they must adapt to some of the cornerstones of Danish culture.

1. Public restraint — Danes appreciate politeness in public settings. This includes keeping someone’s speaking volume down and not drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.

2. Informality — Titles such as Mr. and Mrs. are rarely used in Denmark, even between people of different statuses. Unlike in French or Spanish, formal pronouns are rarely used in Danish.

3. Blunt humor — Danish humor is known for being sarcastic and self-deprecating. As a reflection of their lack of formality, Danes can laugh at others caught in an embarrassing situation.