How to make Danish friends in Denmark (Advice from a Dane) | Six step guide to find a Danish friend

🇩🇰 Making friends in a new country can be daunting, especially in Denmark where the culture may seem a bit reserved at first. But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, I walk you through the nuances of befriending Danes, providing you with practical tips and insights to help you build meaningful relationships in Denmark.
Many expats feel that it's exceptionally difficult to make Danish friendships. But the reality is that it's equally difficult for Danes to befriend Danes.
So, how do Danes make new friends in Denmark? What are the tips and tricks to get under the skin and into the calendars of Danes, who always seem to have made plans for the next half year out (quite likely).
I hope that this video will make it easier for you to make long-lasting friendships in Denmark.
🔹 Key Points Covered:
- Understanding Danish Social Norms: Learn why Danes may appear reserved and how you can navigate these cultural subtleties.
- Identifying Potential Danish Friends: Discover what types of Danes are more likely to be open to friendships with foreigners.
- Finding the Right Venues: Explore where and how to meet new people in Denmark, from clubs to community gatherings.
- Engaging in Social Activities: Get involved in activities that Danes enjoy and find common interests to bond over.
- The Process of Making Danish Friends: A step-by-step guide from the first meeting to developing a lasting friendship.
- The Role of Alcohol in Socializing: Understand how social drinking can play a part in forming friendships in Denmark.
🔹 Who should watch this video?
- Expats, young professionals, and international students in Denmark.
- Anyone planning to move to Denmark.
- Individuals interested in Danish culture and social life.
- Danes having a hard time making friends with Danes.
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🔹 Engage with me:
Do you have any experiences with making friends in Denmark or tips to share? Drop a comment below and let's discuss!
If you have a topic for a future video, you can also drop me an email on [e-mail].
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🔹 Recommended Resources:
MY COOK BOOK: How to Make Danish Open Sandwiches
www.amazon.com/How-make-Danis...
MY DATING BOOK: From Dating to Love (My Book About Dating in Denmark)
singletips.dk/from-dating-to-...
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Need specific advice or want to learn more about Danish culture? Email me at [e-mail], and I'll connect you with resources and experts.
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👉 Check Out Related Videos: For more perspectives on life in Denmark and tips on navigating the expat experience.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:58 - Content of video
1:50 - Assumptions and clarifications about friendship
2:40 - Are Danes harder to make friends with?
4:10 - Why Danes are not used to foreigners
5:10 - Meaning of 'friendship' in Denmark
6:28 - Which Danes are most open to friendships?
8:50 - Where do you find Danes to befriend?
12:00 - Making friends with Danes at work
13:00 - Making Danish friends in the nightlife
13:40 - The process of making Danish friends
16:40 - Culture tip: Danes socialize easier with alcohol (sadly)
18:45 - Outro - Subscribe and follow for more
ABOUT ME
My name is Steven Højlund. With decades of experience both in Denmark and internationally, I share grounded, in-depth insights to help you understand Danish social dynamics and how to enrich your life in Denmark.
With a background in social science, I have studied Danish society from an academic and historical point of view. I've worked with expats in all my jobs, and thus learned a lot from listening to the topics of the day with all my expat colleagues throughout my career. I've tried to give my advice on life in this small but special country. At a certain point, I thought it would be better to just start a KZbin channel and send my colleagues a link instead of repeating the same points over and over again.

[@lijojake]

Tak. Good informational video

[@expattips_denmark]

Thank you 😊

[@Gert-DK]

I have a tip. Study the language very much, especial in the start, study hard. Your workmates and neighbours will notice your progress. Danes knows the language is hard, so we get impressed when we hear people are progressing in the language. Impress the Danes with your progress. One day I got a new neighbour, she spoke Danish very badly. So we often spoke English. Then I found out she has been living here for 14 years. I was very disappointed, and we didn't meet as much any more. I had lost the interest in sitting drinking tea and just chat, I was annoyed it had to be in English, without any chance it could become Danish in the future. We are still cool, but close friends we will never be. Do what you can to learn Danish, and keep on learning, so maybe I will not turn my back on you, but instead help you. Help yourself, learn the language. Tip! I saw a guy, here on YT, who had problems remembering what things are called in Danish. So he put posters on he's stuff in the apartment. I think it is genius. Good luck!

[@expattips_denmark]

Hi Gert. The language is a highway to understanding a culture. I agree completely - it's so important to learn the language of country you live in.

[@dammikawelivita3350]

Tak you. Your session is very informative. My dear friend, Can you educate me on social work that I can do after my job.

[@expattips_denmark]

Thank you very much. 'Besøgsven' is a nice initiative, where you can visit elderly people and talk with them so that they don't feel lonely. Some elderly also speak English and like to have foreign visitors as well.

[@minutsi]

Where are you from, and where are you staying here in Denmark 🇩🇰

[@MaximDL1410]

After almost 12 years in Denmark i can write a compendium about how you can not make friends in Denmark . 🤭😁😉

[@expattips_denmark]

Would certainly be interesting to hear some of those stories 🙂

[@minutsi]

It's most likely a problem about yourself... What have you tried...?

[@MaximDL1410]

@@minutsi it s just do not work it for me and it is Ok for me now, i live in my own bubble😉😁 . Danish population is an homogenous , tribal population dominated by ,, Janteloven ,, and just by being different, non-conformist , not in the line with them you are ,, wrong ,, They are very brainwashed by they own politicians. Danish have an tendency to exclude, even Danish are excluding each other , and in my opinion they are suffering from the small country complex. They are very afraid not ,, loosing ,, their culture , tradition , language so one. ( because of the size of the country ) Last but least Denmark , danish people met late in their History other cultures , foreigners, immigrants . In the 1960’s came in Denmark the first immigrants ( turks came to Denmark for work) So because Denmark is a small sized country , with a small homogen population , and danish population met other different cultures late in their history, it is still hard for the most of danish to think globally. Is a little bit funny , I remember the period with Brexit , it was also a wave here in Denmark to leave EU. But danish have seen how ,,fucked up,, is now UK economy because of Brexit, and they forget now about Dan-exit 😉😁. Og hvis du er dansker denne refleksion , min refleksion er også til dig. Det er bare min subjektiv mening om dit land og mere specifik jer danskere … no hard feelings…😉😁😊