12 Things Americans First Notice in Denmark

[@laer2873]

If you do make a video on restaurant culture here in Denmark, I noticed a fun thing when my American friend came to visit that might be interesting to add: in Denmark we place the cutlery in a certain may on the plate to silently communicate to the waiter that you are finished. The waiter will notice and take the plates when the whole table have placed their cutlery in the finished position. That way we won't get disturbed before we're finished :) I didn't realize Americans didn't have this system. We even do it at home. Feels weird to finish a meal and not place the cutlery in the finished position :D love your videos!

[@34ey5drift8]

100 % rigtigt

[@SteamboatW]

We have the same system in Sweden, too, but I think it's not as prevalent as in Denmark.

[@helenahedegaard4538]

4:20 if you're done. And 7:20 if you're not.

[@lovfro]

From having done waitstaff work in London, they have the same system there.

[@sumisu_senpai_6280]

You know when I've finished my meal, because the plate is empty 🤣

[@mememe733]

30 years ago I was in Tivoli’s old wooden rollercoaster 🎢 with an American college student and he was so shocked about the lack of security 😅 I remember he said how dangerous it was because you could get your arm ripped off if you stuck it out and hit the wall, I pointed to a sign and said “well, it clearly says not to do that, so why would you?” And he said “what if you are a kid?” And I had to explain to him that Danish kids was taught not to do stupid stuff like that. I really didn’t understand what the big deal was, but later I moved to the US and discovered the whole “I’ll sue you” culture 😬 I spent a year in West Chester, Philadelphia in 1993-94 as an Au-pair, taking care of 2 small girls. The winter was really bad that year I was told compared to normally, with a long period of snow and ice, people crashed every day on slippery roads because there was not enough salt to spread. However, the worst part for mig was that the kids had no outdoor clothing. We walked from the kitchen directly into the garage and drove everywhere so the parents saw no use for it. I felt so confined that winter, I wanted to build a snowman ⛄️ and make snow angels with the girls. It’s still so strange to me that 2 children (age 18 months and 3 years) didn’t get to play outside even once during the winter. Here I DK children sleep outside in prams all year round.

[@Waff3n]

They sleep outside in prams in the streets of the capital sometimes not even in view of the parents with only a baby monitor keeping watch. Feels nice to live in a safe place.

[@FutureMan420Blazer]

Wtf lousy kinda parents dont let their kids outside to build a snowman/play. Poor kids.

[@perfrchandersen4853]

Have a look at Reactions to Danske skovbørnehaver. If you want to watch an american drop his or her jaw, watch them look at danish kindergarden children learning to use knives and playing outside on trees.

[@Luke-pp2lw]

It’s because they think it’s dangerous for the children to be alone outside. This is due to a culture of fear and badly planned towns and cities. The children cannot travel outside their neighbourhoods without the parents driving. This makes it very uncommon to see children alone outside, to the point that people have gotten their 12 year old child taken away

[@Terraoblivion]

The comment about American stores being more convenient also reveals a cultural difference. Being Danish and having lived in Canada and having visited the US on multiple occasions, I found grocery shopping extremely inconvenient in both counties. The store is always very far away and far too large to find anything easily. Food was also generally sold in very large amounts, forcing a lot of control and planning on what to eat in order to avoid throwing most of it out, which was definitely quite inconvenient. Especially if I realized I'd forgotten something I needed. Also, despite the supposed large number of options, it mostly amounted to different brands of the same thing or very similar thing and bizarrely narrow product ranges. The local (kinda, it was still a 45-minutes walk) supermarket in Canada had an entire aisle of rice, yet it was just different brands and packaging-sized of the same kind of cheap, plasticy-tasting rice without any easy option for jasmine, basmati or some other cultivar. I also never managed to find tomato concentrate. In general, variety didn't actually seem any greater than in a small town or suburban Kvickly, the store was just twice as large, making finding anything a lot harder. In general, when buying groceries in Denmark, it pays to know which stores sell what. Some are going to have specialized in certain kinds of products more than others and some are going to have higher quality versions of products than others. In urban areas stores are also going to be quite close together, so going between different stores to get more specialized or higher quality products and learning which stores have what does take a bit of work. But once you learn it, it allows both considerable variety and access to high end products above what I've ever seen in a North American store. You'll be hard-pressed to find literally hundreds of cheese options within a ten minute walking distance of each other in North America, including ones that are high end and protected enough that the store needs to bid for limited production at auctions, for example.

[@timothyclark803]

@siliara and now you know why obesity is a bigger problem here in the US. Both the fact that food portions are way bigger than you get in other countries, and, also, way more processed.

[@IdaidaKristensen]

Fun fact about the hight of all the older buildings in Denmark: they are only 4 floors tall because of fire safety, so if the building was on fire the ladder on the firetruck could only reach the 4th floor

[@martinejongerius1296]

I recognise a lot from all things in this video 🙂 I am Dutch, living in the Netherlands with my Danish partner and I visited Kopenhagen quite a few times. Many things are similar to Dutch cities but Kopenhagen is definitely cleaner and better taken care of. Therefore one of my favourite cities. Thanks for sharing👍

[@pm71241]

I find it nice that there's no tipping in Denmark ... It just avoids a lot of awkward situations. If you don't like the food/service, just don't come back. With tipping it often ends up hurting someone who maybe wasn't at fault. But yes... it can some times be hard to convince the staff that you need the bill to be able to leave.

[@jose_cheer3644]

Hey guys I'm danish American, born and raised in Copenhagen Tipping in Denmark is optional, but most places will share tips with the kitchen and the cleaning staff. All tips go into 1 pile and shared evenly. Great show's, even with all the small misunderstanding 😉 Mvh Kasper

[@SadMatte]

Wait there's tipping here? I have never ever seen it

[@drumstick74]

I didn't know it was illegal to enjoy alcohol in public in US, even in the parks... The smoking is allowed in tiny pubs/Bodegas in Denmark, but they have to be smaller than 40 m2 to allow it. Larger venues and bars are still no smoking zones. PS: I heard the City of New York banned smoking in Central Park, NYC. That's harsh. (edit: missing words)

[@begitteolsen3784]

No alcohol in public ? Why? I'm a Dane so I don't understand the fuss.

[@Frivals]

I want to walk and not breath the smoke of other people

[@chokolade2308]

I really enjoy watching your vlogs. You’re very observant and have a great approach when talking about cultural differences/experiences. I’ve watched your videos on and off for quite some time and I’ve got to say, strangely you guys look younger in your newer vlogs compared to the older ones. The same goes for Travelin’ Young. Generally you also seem calmer or maybe more in balance in a sense like you’re in a good place :D Stay happy and healthy

[@FroddeB]

9:00 7-Eleven is always open also some during new years and Christmas. We used to have 24 hour open Nettos (I wish they would bring that back). However in Europe, Denmark is actually the one country with ANY stores that are open during sundays and holidays, and even during night. Go to any other country and you'll notice everything closes at 22 at the latest, and holidays and sundays are completely closed.

[@thomasbarchen]

You forgot to mention how pleasant the Danes are! I am currently in Copenhagen for a few days. I am an American living in Berlin for over twenty years and I have been to many European cities and I find the people in Copenhagen just lovely. Nice channel.

[@RobeTrotting]

This is true, I also hear people say "everyone looks so happy and laid back" and that really is the case. Enjoy your time in Copenhagen - maybe we'll run into you! Thanks for watching 😀

[@mace8873]

I wasn't aware we were noteworthy pleasant, but thanks for your kind words, and I hope you'll enjoy your stay with us.🙂

[@b.v.nielsen8714]

@@mace8873 I guess, to an american you are pleasant if you don't shoot them. 😊

[@MIB_63]

Most Danes find Americans lovely too including myself who is engaged to an American woman.

[@henningbartels6245]

though Berliners are known to be especially rude within Germany.

[@abigailkublnick3257]

i’m obsessed with your videos!! i’m going on a youth exchange in denmark starting in august for 11 months!

[@RobeTrotting]

Aw, so glad you liked it - hopefully out channel can help you prepare. Good luck :)

[@davidpax]

Schools are different too. Check the Travelin Young KZbin channel for more about that.

[@hassegreiner9675]

About the lack of 24hrs availability of streetfood: We need to close early to get our beauty sleep.

[@MTSALES53436]

Denmark is a surprising country for many and a shocking country for others. But that's what the country is. Danes live under a well established culture that starts at schools (since the 60's) and teach kids how to behave in society and among other people. I moved here for more than 20 years ago and got shocked with many things (I'm a latin) but slowly got adjusted to this wonderful, but never perfect, country. Which country is perfect? Cheers

[@RobeTrotting]

We couldn't agree more - it's a great society and never perfect, but no where is. Cheers to you Mario and thank you for watching!

[@kamillahaugaard3731]

So funny that you experience the difficulty of finding filter Coffee! Finter Coffee is what everyone used to drink! . What everyone used to have in their homes as well. It is definitely the traditional thing. Ten years ago, if you went outside the bigger cities it was impossible to find any espresso-kind of coffee. I remember going to my grandmother's town, dying for a cappuccino after days of her filter. Asking around, but not able to find it. If you go to bodegas they will probably have it, as well as in any summerhouse, there will be a filter machine, and at any grandparents place.

[@Insert_Bland_Name_Here]

This is one of the best channels on KZbin, no kidding. I love hearing about how totally weird things are here in Denmark, that we're just used to. Definitely do a video on restaurants! Maybe one on music venues too, if you have any experience with American venues to compare to?

[@RobeTrotting]

Wow, thank you Kasper - that's such a nice compliment. We'll keep the videos coming and we need to work on restaurants for sure. Music venues could be interesting to compare as well - we have been to a lot of the major stadiums and a selection of concert halls and venues like Red Rocks in Colorado.

[@TheTobiasandersen95]

It's so fun to hear all the small cultural differences - I had no idea america had restrictions on drinking in public - which just sounds wierd, because It's pretty much part of growing up in denmark, lol (although I was raised in a small city with about 2000 inhabitants so I can't speak much for CPH nightlife)

[@RobeTrotting]

It was a big change for us to feel okay walking around with a beer or going to a park to drink outside. We love it! And it’s definitely the same in CPH - especially on these nice summer days 😊🇩🇰🍻

[@metamon2704]

I think in general you are not allowed to drink in public in city centers, I know even in my small'ish city it's not allowed.

[@spencermoore137]

I think US drinking laws are not understandable from a European perspective. Just seems bizarre that you can get married, be a parent, buy guns, join the armed forces and fight and die for your country but aren’t deemed old enough to buy a beer.

[@TheTobiasandersen95]

@@spencermoore137 yea thats a bit willy wonka that

[@RobeTrotting]

If you tried drinking a beer in a park or by the river you would be fined in America. There was some exception to this during the pandemic when some cities and towns granted bars the ability to make "take away drinks" but it was the first time in our lifetimes this was allowed and I think the intention was not for you to drink them on the streets.

[@SigneKristineHermind]

Shops opening hours are convienient for the retail workers, because they have better salery, better working conditions and time off at holidays and evenings ( ment for sleeping :)

[@RobeTrotting]

Yes, at first we had a hard time with this, but then it really made us realize that it was nice for us to let things go and be home at a convenient time. It's better to plan ahead more and not be "running errands" all hours of the night.

[@johndododoe1411]

The standard (mandatory) opening hours used to be a leftover from war time restrictions during WW2, then got gradually relaxed between 1980 and 2010 under various right wing government. One moderate politician invented a special exception that shops with an annual gross revenue below a certain amount would be completely exempt from restrictions on opening hours. As a result, some supermarket chains organized their branches to keep some shops under the limit and thus open late.

[@anderspeterjohnsen8590]

Thanks for another great video: It really is interesting to me to learn about the small, but rather curious cultural differences we have within Western cultures. As a native Dane, I can't help but smile hearing your observations about coffee: I was born in 1977 in a Copenhagen suburb (Værløse, 10 miles north of Copenhagen) and both my paternal and maternal grandparents only knew regular filter coffee, so I am raised on filter coffee, you might say! 🙂 As far as I know, traditional Danish coffee has thus ALWAYS been regular filter coffee until something like 20-30 years ago, when the whole Italian Espresso-style method caught on in posh Copenhagen cafés, because we wanted to be "more international". And yes, while a lot of younger people from the middle class might have also gotten on to this hype and bought some quite expensive Espresso-machines in the 700-1000$-range - or their rather cheap and popular derivatives like Nespresso - for their homes, I would bet that most Danes living outside the cities still would serve regular, honest "cup of joe"-filter coffee to their private guests. (Or - again in the more academic middle class - perhaps the Bodum "French Press"-type of coffee, Bodum being one of the typical 'Danish Design'-icons). At least a glance at general supermarket shelves still show, that regular, finely ground coffee is by far the most sold product. Thank you for your great videos!

[@simonpresley9267]

All of these are spot on, I work with tourists here in Copenhagen, and these are the exact things that ALL of the American visitors to Denmark point out 😄

[@RobeTrotting]

Haha, that's good to know we hit the same reactions, but I hope we didn't give you PTSD Simon - it couldn't have been easy taking those Americans around town LOL

[@_sofie]

I would love a whole video about “restaurant culture” if you can call it that

[@RobeTrotting]

We need to work on this one - there are so many big and small differences.

[@DNA350ppm]

I agee! It would be interesting!

[@Solskin60Tina]

Something I noticed when dining in America, was all the side dishes. If you are not attentive you might end up just ordering meat. Because you think the order is a meal like in Denmark. And the portions are extremely big even the small ones 😊 and as a dane you are not use to ordering a doggybag for the leftovers, but you don’t want the food the go to waste either 🤷‍♀️🙈

[@AldrigILivet]

Agree! More food!

[@LitzysDelight]

@@Solskin60Tina The side dish thing was definitely the one I had to get used to in America. I've noticed some places in denmark have adopted that as well and it always catches me off guard. "what do you mean what do I want with my steak? ...strange"

[@lisbethskaalum3680]

I have not read the other comments. I am sure I am not the only one who knows, that only very small bars in Dk are allowed to have smokers (which is ironic). And I am also sure, I am not the only one who praises your good Work and charm 💜

[@michaelschalck]

I can so much relate to the part with the coffee machine is down... 😆 here in Sweden it would also be close to a strike in the office if that machine has downtime.

[@Trickie65]

The funny thing about the young people drinking, it doesn´t generate more alcoholics later in their lives. It´s just a periode of time in their lives, where they want to feel free and party, and then later on it stops again. I love your channel!

[@lisbethskaalum3680]

Just like the nummer of high school students smoking weed doesn't create more drug addicts in the US 😅😅😅

[@lisawholm]

You mention smoking in tiny bodegas at 2:56. This only applies to smaller bodegas at max 40 sqm. The smoking laws have become more strict. Smoking inside all restaurants, buses and public buildings was banned in 2007. In 2021 the law was changed and now it's illegal to smoke at train stations, outside hospital entrances and outside schools.

[@RobeTrotting]

You can’t even smoke in outdoor bars and restaurants in the US and it’s been like that for 20 years. 30 or more for trains.

[@MachivelianBear]

It’s sad to see that smoking has become a politicized issue in Denmark. We used to have a lot of “frisind” but an unfortunate influence of American puritanical culture has crossed back over the Atlantic. The funny thing is: All smokers know how bad it is for them. Some wanna quit and a lot really don’t, because anyone who has tried smoking knows how nice it is. Best way to approach it should be to let bars themselves chose wether they allow indoor smoking or not, same goes for restaurants. Austria has had a lot of success with that system. Great video as always!

[@johndododoe1411]

Yeah, it's a horrible Amaricanism when some managers insist on extending the (already excessive) indoor smoking ban to extremely well ventilated areas, such as outdoors on company property.

[@perfrchandersen4853]

Its harder for you to get Filterkaffe here in denmark, because Filterkaffe is about 2 dollers for a full pot if you make it your self at home, and about 5 dollers pr. cup if you by it at a cafe. So we only want to buy special coffe when we are out, we hygger us med kaffe derhjemme. (Know you speak enough danish to understand that :-)

[@Nygaard2]

I guessed BIKES EVERYWHERE as #1 :) Thanks guys, another fun video!

[@RobeTrotting]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching Magnus 😊🇩🇰

[@metteandersen3564]

“You’re a 10 to me”. How sweet is that. Take good care of each other and love will last❤️❤️

[@srenh.jrgensen1798]

I really like that you always say “Hej hej” like natural born Danes, instead of “Bye bye!”

[@RobeTrotting]

It’s funny because we notice a lot of little things where we use Danish or the English translation of a Danish turn of phrase now 😊🇩🇰

[@KevfireTheFirst]

I'm kinda surprised about the smoking you mentioned. Only about 20% or less smoke in Denmark (still too many though) and tobacco sales are at the lowest in 70 years. Smoking indoors in public places is generally forbidden by law, except for bars that are smaller than 40 square meters and don't serve food. These places of course then tend to attract smokers. So I guess this means you guys hang out in a lot of small bars. ;) Regarding late night dining, Restaurant Rio Bravo used to be open until 4am, nothing fancy but was okay for a late night meal. Sadly they now close at 11pm. But Restaurant Vita is still open to 2am on 4 days of the week and there are a few others that are open to 1am on the weekends. But yeah, not a lot of options.

[@RobeTrotting]

Oh, that's good to know about Vita - we have heard of them. Yeah, we go to a few smaller bars regularly and it's annoying to smell like smoke (or to have to think about if it's smoking or not). It's funny that it's the small bars that get an exception though.

[@MachivelianBear]

Because of the high taxes on tobacco, the cigarette black market has exploded. Berlingske and TV2 Lorry have done som pieces on it. So yes the official numbers are that the numbers of legal tobacco products has fallen in sales. But the black market has eaten it up. Much like what America tried with prohibition, it has the opposite effect as to what the laws tried to achieve.

[@andersjjensen]

@@RobeTrotting The really small, non-food serving, bars got an exempt because they would pretty much croak otherwise. I'm not going to throw the word alcoholic around... but those places tend to live off "the usual suspects" for 5 out of 7 days of the week. And the crowd that goes to the local bar right after work (or right after breakfast) every single day is almost entirely made up of smokers.

[@johndododoe1411]

Rio Bravo is famous for the fact that the government once hung out there during late night negotiations that ended up in a set if laws popularly referred to by the name of the restaurant.

[@KevfireTheFirst]

@@MachivelianBear Was not aware of that, but I guess it's to be expected. Us Danes will do our best to find a way around things the government tries to enforce. :)

[@larse8005]

Nice video 😄

[@RobeTrotting]

Thank you for watching and the kind words Lars 😀🇩🇰

[@MsBlackdeath13]

Nice video. I imagine the amount of light you get through the year here, probably surprised you as well. Like that it’s still light out at 9pm in the summertime and barely any light in the wintertime.

[@RobeTrotting]

100% - I think because the climates aren't too dissimilar between northern Europe and northern USA or southern Europe and southern USA you just don't realize how much farther north we are here. Philadelphia is at 40N latitude which is the same as southern Spain, Sicily and Southern mainland Greece - it's just wild. Copenhagen is the same latitude as Anchorage Alaska. We did not expect the long summer sunlight haha.

[@davidpax]

@@RobeTrotting But the coastal climate in Denmark keeps the temperature from going extreme. And the Gulf Stream brings warm water to Skandinavia. All in all it's rainy and windy most of the year.

[@andersjjensen]

@@davidpax It's still just "a light breeze" if the trees aren't yet standing at a 45 degree angle, and it's only "a light dribble" until you can't see the other side of the road! :P

[@benedictebp]

Just love the channel :) My experiences with American tourists has only been positive. They are very polite. One time had just finished work in Hillerød, so i was walking to my train (Lokalbanen) when I saw some confused tourists. Many become unsure what train to take because they all look alike. So several times I have guided people to the right train and Americans have always tried to give me money for it. I always refused, just did it to help. This one time an American woman tried several times to give me money, no don't give me anything. Perhaps because I was in uniform they thought I was hired by the railway or something. lol.

[@timothyclark803]

Well, that wasn't them being polite. They most definitely thought you worked for the company and tipping is a big part of American culture. But, at least they didn't talk down to you like they might a server or cashier at an American store. I think they were just behaving a bit more politely because they weren't at home and didn't want to feed into the stereotype of Americans being rude. I am an American myself, and, unfortunately, being rude and treating those you perceive as lower then you is very much deep seated into American thought processes. Which is a big reason once I am out of the military I plan fully on leaving to live in Denmark. Really, any Scandanavian country where my skills as a healthcare worker can be put to use in a much better healthcare system.

[@SamuelHauptmannvanDam]

4:30 filter coffee is also a fashion. I don't think anyone doesn't have a parent or a grand parent that has a filter coffee machine. So it's "just" the "counter coffee culture" of the times. xD

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

"De drikker kaffe fra kaffemaskiner hele formiddagen" Gnags

[@josefinerasmussen7241]

I just Saw that building today when I was in Copenhagen

[@kinuuni]

Oh, tourists in Copenhagen and the bikes is like my favourite topic to rant about XD As a person biking in Copenhagen, tourist season especially is not for the feint of heart. All of a sudden someone is dragging their suitcase along on the bike lane rather than the side walk, or people just walk across it. Worse even, people who are adults but have probably tried sitting on a bike three times in their lives and two of them was when they were kids, are now trying to bike around the city like slinkies on wheels. All while not signalling for stop or turn. I even tried two years ago almost being run over by two kids on a bike (two people on a bike will give you a fine in Denmark, btw) who yelled at me in English to get out of the way. I was on the sidewalk. They were not even riding on the right side of the road, much less the designated lane. And last but not least, often tourists don't automatically make room for people to pass them on the sidewalk. It is like they see the bike lane and then think, oh but there is plenty of room to walk past us. Meanwhile I, as a Danish person, am certain my death is immanent the moment I step on there to get around them. Ok, rant over XD

[@FlypperFlop]

I think for the coffee part, it is mostly the thought of going out and talking to another human being so early in the morning to get you caffeine. Not very Danish. So you will probably find that almost all homes in Denmark have some way of producing a cup of coffee, even if the people living there don't drink it (My bf had a jar of instant for his mother when I met him, and my aunt and uncle have a full size coffee machine despite not drinking it).

[@RobeTrotting]

Actually, in those terms it makes a lot more sense haha

[@jonaslarsen4002]

Even myself have a coffee machine and i don't drink coffee. This is true.

[@drdewott9154]

@@RobeTrotting Yeah, most homes have either a filter coffee maker, or simply a tea cettle ready for some instant coffee. And if not there, then a fair few workplaces will have a coffee machine ready if you missed your cup in the morning. Again it all kinda also fits into the food culture here with less eating out in general and more meals being done at home.

[@lovfro]

Spot on. I don't drink coffee, but I do have coffee in the freezer, filters in my kitchen cupboard, a thermos only for coffee and a filter top to do slow pour. Plus coffee cups and sachets of creamer (since I am lactose intolerant) just so I can present the minimum expected hospitality of: "Vil du have en kop kaffe?"

[@VTEySAG]

I can add to this too - I don't drink coffee, can't stand the stuff at all, but i still have both instant and filter coffee in case of guests.

[@idun3694]

Another excellent video, thanks! Regarding skyscrapers, it is certainly because new buildings have to fit in with the historical ones, but the limitations on height more specifically has to do with the daylight here. Our city centres are very combined with business and aparments side by side, and imagine living there in the shadow next to a tall building - especially during the winter! The idea is that everybody deserves natural daylight in their home

[@svendkobbernagel144]

You guys are great! I really enjoy watching your videos! 🙂

[@RobeTrotting]

Thanks so much Svend! 😊 So glad you found us and that you like our content 🇩🇰

[@SigneKristineHermind]

You guys are great!

[@RobeTrotting]

Aw, thank you Signe 🇩🇰😊

[@destrr0310]

Nice vid! Hope to see more:)

[@RobeTrotting]

Thanks for watching Adam! More to come, hope you enjoy our channel 😃🇩🇰

[@destrr0310]

@@RobeTrotting Ended up binge watching for 2 hours since making this comment, rly like the content hehe. På gensyn🙂

[@marcuscole4394]

Love a video about more restaurant culture. I'm kind of familiar already, but there are things that would still be new for me to learn. Thanks for the very nice video.

[@Pel1e]

New viewer here, love the content. As a major in cultural studies I find your videos both hilarious and educational - it’s so fun to watch foreingers experiences/expressions of Danmark (although I’d Hardly Call you foreingers any more). While the legal age is up for debate at the moment (as I Think it should be) there’d probably be a straight up revolution if they Tried to Ban public drinking.

[@RobeTrotting]

I'm so glad you found us Pelle, and thank you for watching and your kind words. We love to get into the cultural side of things and those micro differences are always the most interesting (at least we think so). It's always funny when we learn why our American phrasing or habit is taken the wrong way and to look at the cultural nuances that get missed day to day 😀🇩🇰

[@Lorentari]

The glasses give off "crazy uncle" vibes - and I'm here for it

[@spencermoore137]

I’ve only recently found your channel and have watched some of your last videos but far from all of them. One topic that interests me, as I might be moving to Copenhagen, is learning Danish. In this video you noted that you stopped lessons to concentrate on socialising. Do you regret that at all? As you have been there five years do you have any plans to go back to learning Danish? How many of your ex pat friends do speak Danish (when we lived in Switzerland we knew many long term residents who only knew a smattering of German).

[@mace8873]

I know this wasn't directed at me, but allow me a reply anyway, please. Be aware that Danish isn't the easiest of languages, and that most people here speak English at the very least on a conversational level, plus we do tend to simply switch over to English if we see you struggling with the language, so be prepared to have to tell people to speak Danish as you'll probably learn the language faster that way. And, Danish lessons are all good and so on, but I reckon you'll learn the language faster with fewer lessons and more social interactions - the technicalities of the language are one thing, but actually understanding the deeper meaning is another, and everyday conversations aren't carried out to school standards. Let me give you an example of just one word - "plade". In Danish it simply means "something flat", we'd use it to describe everything from an LP to a suit of plate armor, but _not_ a sheet of paper, a flat-screen TV, or a roll of fabric. As far as I know, there are no set rules for when to use the word and when not to, except maybe that it probably but not always has to do with something stiff, so that's something you'd have to learn by speaking with people. It isn't easy, but I'm sure you'll get by just fine, lots of people do, and come to think of it, many of my closest friends are from all over the place and don'ẗ speak Danish perfectly, and that really isn't a problem.

[@Raev222]

Love your hair, Derek!

[@RobeTrotting]

Thank you 😍 I'm not sure the end goal, but I'm growing it for now haha

[@Raev222]

@@RobeTrotting So far it suits you very much! Looking forward to see the rest of the progress. Maybe you can inspire Mike to grow out those gorgeous curls as well.. 👀 Haha!

[@traver1965]

Most danes I know, wakes up in the morning and makes one litre of filtered coffee. They drink at least two big cups of it. Maybe later in the afternoon they drink a small cup of coffee with a fancy italien name ;)

[@RobeTrotting]

I wonder if we just get raised to think that afternoon coffee would keep us up all night?

[@lisbethfrost5024]

@@RobeTrotting I think that caffeine affects people differently. I’ve noticed that a lot of my North American colleagues can’t drink coffee at night whereas Danes and many other Europeans don’t find it problematic to finish an evening meal with a cup of coffee or an espresso. Maybe it’s genetic.

[@SimSummer]

We love when non danes talk about denmark here so keep up the good work☔

[@RobeTrotting]

Thanks for watching 😊🇩🇰 we will definitely keep the videos coming.

[@michaelschalck]

Even me as a dane living in Sweden loves to hear all the stories about good old Denmark.. 😁

[@145Nudel]

I would like for the restaurants to be open way longer. So for instance if you’ve been to the movies, you could go out for a nice meal while talking about the movie

[@RobeTrotting]

Yeah, that's always nice. We're used to at least having a 24 hour diner open late for that. Plus it's always hard to explain to visitors (especially when the sun is up later than restaurants are open) that we need to make a reservation and book it early - especially our American visitors who don't like to plan as much.

[@KimMilvang]

Café/restaurant coffee culture is very different than what people drink at home or at the office. Filter coffee is your every day drink, and most people when they go out they want something more fancy.

[@RobeTrotting]

That makes sense. We have a little less variety in the type of coffee but all the additional sugary coffee drinks and flavor syrups etc 😊

[@Sita_Schioetz]

Go to "The Midwestern Diner" in Copenhagen, it's American food the good classic way, and it's amazing!

[@robdawg6674]

We are coming to Copenhagen for a 12 day visit at end of June to experience the Grand Depart of Tour de France and cannot wait!

[@hansemannluchter643]

Tour de France ite domum..

[@PixyEmilie]

I'm totally with you on the coffee! 😂 Even though I'm Danish, I can't drink coffee in the afternoon either. I don't understand people who can do that. I would be wide awake at night 😂

[@MIB_63]

I'm Danish and I drink coffee at all times of the day except right before bedtime.

[@LitzysDelight]

Same here. My last cup of coffee is at 15:00. Anything later than that and I hope I have a good movie I can watch cause I sure ain't sleeping

[@kokoshneta]

Yeah, I was very surprised by that bit. I know *lots* of Danes who can’t drink coffee at night, it’s definitely a thing here too.

[@JessDemant]

My wife has family in the US and they have also been surprised by the way we live, and it has made us think that there is more difference in some areas than we think about on a daily basis. The American family thought we were a bit behind and more or less communists who left almost all of our salary to the state, but when they experienced our healthcare without insurance and that you are always guaranteed treatment regardless of your income, they were positively surprised. They were also wildly surprised at how we were insured if we became unemployed, so that we didn't have to sell our house and the like. However, they could not fully understand the gun law, although they had to admit it made for a much safer society (They may be getting too much of their knowledge from Fox News) They said they heard some some negative things about Communist Denmark, but if it was Communism they'd would exchange it the extra vacation, LOL 😂

[@Temptation666]

4:29 In the municipality I live in there are officially 19 buildings from before 1800. There is even an Estate from 1390 and a Diocese from 1586. In addition, the oldest "ordinary" dwellings are from 1638, 1675, 1677. The remaining of the 19 oldest are built between 1750 and 1780. I must admit that I chuckle a little when I see an American proudly displaying their "antique" house from last part of 18 hundred or beginning of 1900 "i bought a 100 year old house" as if that was something special. But maybe it is to them. 7:09 ok i bite. You look good. Don't sell yourself short even if you do live in a country with and aktive Jantelov 🤣

[@RobeTrotting]

It's so wild to us when we see older buildings - I think mentally we always look at anything built before 1776 as extremely old (because that would be colonial age in America and only the east coast has such buildings remaining). And then our friends are like "I was baptised in a church that's 750 years old" and our jaws drop haha.

[@Temptation666]

@@RobeTrotting hehe

[@Temptation666]

@siliara yes. . I was Baptized in one that was build in around 1100

[@julianneheindorf5757]

Joke: Guide to American couple: This church was built in 1120. Husband to wife: Geez, Mildred, we just missed it by 20 minutes… 😂

[@Temptation666]

@@julianneheindorf5757 HAHAHA

[@kirstendrost]

Dane here - but just lived in Canada for 3 years and I miss Amazon so much hahaha. The convenience aspect of fast and reliable delivery... Here we are sometimes dealing with 3-7 days - and you still cant be sure it will make it in time... But I would rather respect working conditions, working hours and then having to do my shopping before 5.30pm on a weekday or before 4pm on a Saturday... But besides that, I LOVE the food selection here in Copenhagen. Everything is so tasty, and a restaurant - no matter if cheap or expensive - cant survive if they dont put on their A-game... Cause bad food experience wont fly for a long time here.. And true with us Danes staying at the table and the restaurant the whole evening... Even the many times Ive travelled to Spain - its always been us Danes being the last ones to leave the restaurants. :) Have you guys explored the brunch places here in CPH - i.e. Wulff & Konstali, Mad & Kaffe, Union Kitchen etc? The first two have - like many other places here - the nice setup with choosing 3-7 smaller dishes, so you put together your own brunch and I like it.

[@jimikraghjensen8635]

the coffee at 10 pm is a getting used to thing i guess... try 1 - 2 am and still go to bed and sleep like i child... i guess what i am saying is that we are just more used to drinking lots of coffee :-) for me personaly it is a must have everyday... more so when it is raining and cold outside

[@TheNorthState666]

Just wait until we get a hard winter again. -10+ or should i say - ;) and the wind chill.... But im glad you like this great contry. :)

[@ThanaPhaPloen]

Very good

[@Phiyedough]

Apart from the smoking part I would prefer the Danish way to the American way. I think if I visited USA I probably would forget the rules and get in trouble for jaywalking, drinking in the street or something. I would also not appreciate being expected to rush my meal to free up the table. I think I would have to experience the cycling culture to know just how it works. Here in Croatia they allow cycling on the pavements and several times I've nearly been knocked down when walking in city streets.

[@RobeTrotting]

We definitely love living in Denmark and have to say that we prefer the lifestyle immensely (not that we don't still love America - we do). When we visit the States we always forget that we can't just grab a beer and walk to meet up with friends. It's so weird not to have that haha. Cycling on the pavement has to be difficult for everyone! You can get fined for it in Denmark but people still do it a little and on the pedestrian streets. Thanks for watching :)

[@MachivelianBear]

Smoking inside bars is amazing. In fact a lot of Norwegians and Swedes go to Denmark to drink(because it is a bit cheaper). But also because of the relaxed smoking laws. I worked as a bartender in Jomfru-Ane Gade(Aalborg, definitely google it). And a lot of Norwegians especially take the ferry to Aalborg. The amount of times Norwegians that has shouted “I love Denmark!” While ordering in the bar with a cigarette in their hand is crazy. Atleast in my experience.

[@michaelgask]

Really interesting "noticings". I seem to identify a lot with your American points (smoking, drinking in public, less biking, etc): these things are kind of similar here in New Zealand, although the early closing of shops and restaurants drives people from other countries crazy when they come here 😜 Other than in the big cities in certain restaurants, don't even think of going out for a late night meal, or the Kiwis have shut up shop and gone to bed! 😆

[@pm71241]

I just heard that the previous US ambassador claimed that people biked in Denmark because they couldn't afford cars and gas.

[@richardcranium8408]

I’m enjoying your videos because I’m about to move to Denmark. What part of Philly did you leave? I was born there.

[@anneuldahl]

A few comments: The guys are good looking too 😉 Filter coffee was the norm, but especially the last 10 years it has changed. People in general drink less coffee today but better quality. Opening hours used to be most worse..i remember supermarkeds closing at 7 or earlier. It wasn't until 1998 that age limit for alcohol was introduced (15 yr, later raised to 16 in 2004), due to having some of the highest rated of youth drinking in Europe.... Great video as always ❤️😊

[@RobeTrotting]

Thanks so much, and thanks for adding these comments. The point about less coffee but better makes a lot of sense with Danish mindset, and lifestyle.

[@ellerikke3948]

@@RobeTrotting Another thing filter coffee is more at homething or something servered after a meal, a lot of people don't have filter coffee machines(or doesn't drink enough to use them), so a lot either rely on old fashioned funnels style, french press or do instant coffee.

[@fuqupal]

In Norway tipping someone is considered insulting. It's like saying: "You must be poor so I'm gonna help you out." You only tip if you are VERY, VERY, VERY pleased with the service. And that tip usually goes into a tip bucket which all the employees gather the money from at the end of the year to throw a huge party for the people who work at the restaurant/diner/cafe.

[@Major42]

Good observations. Stay here in Denmark. ;)

[@RobeTrotting]

Thank you, and that is our plan :)

[@GstarCurtis]

Smoking indoors is heavily restricted in denmark, but clearly not as much as US. Theres a maxium square meter, the bar/room can be if commercial, until you need a dedicated ventilated smoking place/room.

[@RobeTrotting]

It’s so illogical that the smaller a place is the more you can fill it with smoke 😂

[@GstarCurtis]

@@RobeTrotting multiple comedians have joked about this, throughout the years

[@helenehindberg61]

I live in Nørrebro in Copenhagen, and our Netto's and Aldi's and Rema 1000's are open till 21 - midnight but that's something that didn't start until we were well into the new millenia.

[@financialconnectioninc]

I arrived in Copenhagen from NY one summer to study at Kobenhavns Universitet. I was staying by the Central train station for a few days before my housing became available. Early on a Sunday morning I got up in search of Coffee and Food. It was deserted. I was walking along the main road (Vesterbrogade) and the light was red to cross one of the side streets. There was not a car to be seen in any direction, yet there was a small group of people waiting for the light to change. I asked why they didn't just cross as it was totally safe to do so, and one of them said because it's against the law. That was such a contrast from NY.

[@AllanFolm]

Storebaelt has been frozen over enough for trucks to drive across. So we CAN get extremely cold winters. I have seen -32 C here.

[@spencermoore137]

Enjoying your channel and insights, even if being Brit not all the differences are applicable. Perhaps getting more relevant as we may be moving to Copenhagen this year.

[@RobeTrotting]

Oh that's so great to hear Spencer, so glad it helps and good luck with the move - I hope it comes through and you love it here as much as we do.

[@offer202]

I knew a nurse once who had visited the us, she was walking down the street, when a police car stopped her and asked if she was all right. Not because she had done something wrong but beacuse they were worried about her (she was walking). Unfortunately i do not know where she was walking, probably a bit outside of town, not besides the freeway. But her comments about that episode had the word "Fat epidemic" in it. This was a while ago 20-30 years.

[@charlottejoergensen2362]

This is really funny to listen to you , because i am a dane living in the usa. 😊

[@RobeTrotting]

Oh wow, so reverse shocks haha

[@irtehdar2446]

A video about restaurants sound interesting. Have you guys considering comparisons for when you go visit people in america. Ie going to a restaurant in america then to a restaurant in denmark and use some editing magic to show when and where the experiences differ. Obviously cant do it for all your videos but you could bring some recordings back for editing when yo do visit home. Ofc not get arrested for public intoxication for a youtube video we will just have to take your word on that one 😀

[@olexxr8503]

Most grocerystores close at 21/22 PM ..

[@steinarbrevikknudsen1546]

In Norway it is not allowed to drink in public areas such as on the street or in parks. But...if you bring food and some wine with you and sit in a park, no one will care...they will think it's positive. What is not positive is that someone sits drinking in a park on the way to a restaurant...or 10/15 young people sit down drinking alcohol. It is probably so much about noise in public places. Or the possibility of it. I have not been worried about taking a friend to a lunch in the park where one has beer or wine.

[@GaiaCallisto]

I agree!! I have 2 coffee to wake up and no more. If I drink any coffee after noon then I will be up half the night 🤣🤣🤣

[@RobeTrotting]

Okay we are the same way 😂

[@lindadeters8685]

I’d love a vlog about restaurants and if you could explain this mysterious cutlery placement when you’re finished eating. Inquiring minds need to know,

[@alenkaerpsykologi]

Gentlemen. You are both solid 10s.

[@DNA350ppm]

100% agreement from a female perspective!

[@flemmingrostock5340]

"Auw, but you are a 10 to me" *Big Heart*

[@RobeTrotting]

Thanks all 😀 obviously all of you as well - all 5.8 million of you but especially you three

[@dread_viking9860]

at one point buildings was not allowed to be taller then the local church in denmark that is also one of the reasons for the building not being taller

[@RobeTrotting]

Really cool to learn that, thanks for adding this :)

[@fuqupal]

Back in the day, 30+ years ago, there would be "cannabis smoking prohibited" signs around cafes in Copenhagen. There was coffee shops too. And women in red lit windows. You don't see that anymore

[@TheLotte64]

Oh there is a lot of people in Denmark, they also say, that they don't drink coffee, in the afternoon, evenings because they can't sleep at night, if the do so. And also a common thing is, that many people sleep bad, or not at all if it's full moon. 😁👍

[@mcmariager]

Im sitting here at home watching this at 17:15 (5:15 pm?) with an espresso, and I don’t know how to feel about that all of a sudden….

[@RobeTrotting]

😂 I know it would keep both of us up haha - but if it works for you that’s great. I’m kind of envious to be honest.

[@MarkStark-dx9dm]

I can't help by be reminded of the movie "They Live" when watching this intro.

[@martinwied8657]

Try Austria. It’s difficult to find a supermarket that are open on a Sunday

[@RobeTrotting]

Oh yes, and a lot of places in Europe - we are glad to live in the protestant (and mostly secular) country of Denmark haha.

[@deargodwhatamidoing1122]

Honestly, the one about everyone here being good looking, as a Dane, that is 100% true. And I’m bi, so I just go around and think, “you’re hot, you’re cute, Wauw that’s a nice face. WHY IS EVERYONE SO HOT YET NO ONE WANTS TO DATE ME!!” It’s a blessing and a struggle.

[@RobeTrotting]

WOW, yes! It's a nice problem to have I guess haha.

[@Wishbone1977]

Regarding the coffee thing here in Denmark, I hate it. I like coffee, and I like _good_ coffee, and if you call your establishment a coffee shop, you'd better be able to serve me a cup of coffee. But as you pointed out, in many places the closest thing you can get is an americano, but watered down espresso is _not_ the same thing as filter coffee. There, rant over ;-)

[@priscilaundomiel3264]

I love your videos! ❤️ Could please make a video talking more about smokers in Denmark, where are they allowed to smoke, where they cannot smoke, if they smoke next to the other people or they go far away from the people to smoke, I saw a video where the girl said that Denmark wants to ban smoking, is that true? And talk about where people can be fully naked or topless naked, and where they cannot be naked, and if you are in a place where people are naked, can you stay with your clothes on? And another thing would be about professional courses and universities, how can you enter, how does it work, how much it costs for citizens and foreigners, if they have a preparation course to enter in those professional or university courses. That would be very helpful, please! Thank you 🤗. By the way, I think you 2 are very handsome! ❤️

[@abigailkublnick3257]

i would love to see a video about the food/stores that the US and Denmark both have

[@RobeTrotting]

Interesting idea, we could do something similar. We actually thought of comparing the 7-11 stores in the US vs. Denmark - the ones in Denmark are very different.

[@abigailkublnick3257]

@@RobeTrotting yes that would be awesome!! there’s only been one video i’ve seen about 711 in denamrk but it was very old!

[@Gert-DK]

You should take a look at city planing in Copenhagen. Actually, it started over 100 years ago.

[@RobeTrotting]

We are actually working on a video about the city planning of Copenhagen and how it grew as well as another on how the city has influenced other cities around the world. If you like these types of videos then we are all the same brand of nerd haha (in a good way)

[@Gert-DK]

@@RobeTrotting Sounds great, looking forward to it.

[@helenehindberg61]

As a Dane, those brown paperbags around alcoholic drinks in American movies really puzzled me :D

[@AshtonishingJelly]

About smoking: My grand mother told me, that when she was young, and went to the movies, she almost couldn't see the screen/ the movie, because it was so "cloudy" from people smoking, and also from her eyes tearing completely up, do to the smoke! I was so happy that I never experienced that! And when I was younger (I'm 40 now), I hated going to restaurants where you could smoke! I was very much a non smoker! And hated sitting eating, at the same time as having to inhale other peoples smoke! 🤢 So I was so happy that the new rules about smoking were made. But yes there still are some small places where you can smoke. I do think that people don't smoke that much, even outside restaurants any more! I think it created a new mindset. That you smoke outside, and more at home than during the day.. I am personally a fan 😄😆

[@ivannuzhyn4668]

You are soooo amazing:))))

[@julianneheindorf5757]

“Back in the 1990” 😂 For someone who is on the other side of 65 that was an extremely funny comment. You guys are hilarious. As for smoking inside nowadays it’s mostly in bars and in certain areas in restaurants. Bars were pretty much exempt from the smoking ban. There was a huge debate about it when the ban on smoking indoors was first discussed in public and in Folketinget (the Danish parliament for anyone who doesn’t know it). Smoking back in the 1970s and 80s really was everywhere all the time 😫. As a non-smoker our current culture around smoking is marvelous. Most people nowadays don’t allow smoking in their homes. The legal age in Denmark for most everything is 18 including buying and drinking alcohol. That includes such things as driving, which is legal when you are 16 in the US. Yes, there are huge debates ongoing regarding teenage drinking. One problem is young teens get friends who are of age to buy the alcohol for them. In some cases irresponsible parents get them the alcohol. But lots of parents certainly don’t want their kids drinking and will try to control it by telling them they can only drink at home for certain special occasions and under strict supervision by the parents. Drinking alcohol is a very old problem in Denmark and has been going on for centuries. In the 1800s and early 1900s alcoholism was a huge problem. Poverty was extreme, this was before there were any social programs and the system we are familiar with today. At one point, around the 1900s, the government imposed an enormous tax on strong alcohol such as snaps, which until then had been very cheap, as an attempt to curb the excess drinking. It worked, because poor people could no longer drink it the way they had been. Another reason for drinking beer and other alcohol was the fact that water for centuries was contaminated and people didn’t have access to clean, fresh drinking water. When they figured out how to keep water clean and safe that also curbed a lot of drinking. An interesting fact is that if you want to sell and serve alcohol to the public, you need a license. Only someone older than 23 is allowed to do so. Usually if you want to rent a car, you have to be 21 and have had your license for a few years. There are now rules in place for how old teens have to be before they are allowed to legally by cigarettes. I remember a time when kids at any age could buy a pack of smokes. Usually they had been sent to the store to buy a pack for a parent. But nobody ever checked if that was the case. However, most kids, when I was growing up, didn’t have access to a lot of money, and we’d rather buy candy than cigarettes with our money. 😂"

[@NSG._.]

I’m from Denmark and it’s funny that you noticed those thing’s 🇩🇰

[@jrgenh.christiansen8801]

3:45 outside of old houses... I remeber a Korean friend asking "Why do they build these houses in an old style?" And, I pointed at the four numbers on the facade saying "1577", and telling him that this is the year they were build...😏

[@aabymann]

Have you been to Den Gamle By i Aarhus? :) it would be a fun vid to see you two goin :) other than that love your work :) keep it up :D

[@RobeTrotting]

Not yet! We planned to go to Aarhus for some videos last spring but things weren't quite open yet so hopefully we can make it this autumn because our summer is already pretty booked up.

[@popupmus]

The most common coffee in dk is filter coffee - and most need it first thing in the morning. Difference is that the culture of getting things to go and take away is relatively new and american influenced. We make it at home and drink it not on the go...

[@jaynorris3722]

When the smoking ban came into effect in the bars in the city limits, the bars across the street outside of city limits double business. Good on Denmark for not discriminating against smokers.

[@RobeTrotting]

As a non-smoker I don't feel the same haha. I don't need to smell like smoke and get second-hand smoke all night.