Patriotism & Personality

This small holiday house called "kolonihavehus" is an old Danish tradition.

Danes are patriotic and the Danish flag is also used when there is something to celebrate like a person having an important birthday.
Danes are also efficient, generous, environmentally conscious and frank.

Some Danes may tell you how to do something, even though you have not asked for their advice – in this case the best thing to do is to accept the offer because it’s well meant. This type of scenario is one of the most common cultural misunderstandings among foreigners and Danes. In addition, the Danish vocabulary does not have an equivalent for ‘please’. However, thanking people for their company or for the dinner last Friday is much practiced.

In October 2009, Miss Oprah Winfrey visited Denmark and did a program on Danes being voted the happiest people in the world again. Here are some of the visit and the Oprah Show

In Denmark both children and the elderly enjoy a degree of independence. It is normal to have your babies take a nap in their strollers outside.

Or to let young children play in the courtyard without adult supervision. Also, some elderly may get offended when a person – without asking – offers to help them across a street, for instance. This may seem somewhat odd but we suggest you just accept it.