Living in Denmark: Making Friends as a Foreigner
Advice for Danes on building connections with international acquaintances
Denmark is known for its cool, reserved attitude towards strangers, with many foreigners finding it tough to forge friendships with Danes. This issue is not just anecdotal - empirical evidence supports it, with Denmark ranking a lowly 47 out of 53 countries in the 'Finding Friends' category in the annual Expat Insider report by Internations.
This report, based on surveys, also analyzes other factors that influence the quality of life for expats, such as ease of settling in and local friendliness. Sadly, Denmark didn't make the top 40 in any of these categories.
The Struggle is Real
Numerous foreigners who have come to Denmark for work, study, or other reasons can attest to the challenges they face in building personal bonds with Danes. And it's not just about the 2024 report or Internations' surveys - other studies have yielded similar results. The 2020 "Expat Study" by Oxford Research found that a staggering 43% of people termed 'expats' found it difficult to make friends in Denmark, with around one in five struggling to settle in altogether.
Most foreigners tend to form friendships among other foreign non-Danish speakers, which underscores the challenges in crossing cultural barriers.
Bridging the Gap
So, what can foreigners do to increase their chances of meeting Danes under social conditions that feel comfortable to them? And how can Danes make things easier for their foreign colleagues or acquaintances?
For Foreigners:
- Learn Basic Danish: Danes appreciate the effort to learn their language and using Danish phrases can help break the ice.
- Participate in Community Groups: Join local sports teams, language exchange groups, or clubs that align with your interests. This can be an excellent way to meet like-minded individuals.
- Make Use of Social Media: Connect with people online before arriving in Denmark through LinkedIn, Facebook groups, or expat forums.
- Attend Local Events: Engage in cultural events, festivals, and gatherings where you can interact with locals.
- Be Proactive: Don't shy away from reaching out and inviting people to social events. Open communication is essential for building friendships.
For Danes:
- Be Open-Minded: A welcoming attitude can make a big difference. Be willing to engage in conversations and invite foreigners into social circles.
- Hold Conversations in English: As most Danes speak excellent English, using it can help foreigners feel more included.
- Host Cultural Events: Organize gatherings where foreigners can experience Danish culture and traditions, fostering connections through shared experiences.
- Mentorship Programs: Establish mentoring programs that pair foreigners with Danish hosts to guide them through cultural nuances and help them navigate everyday life.
- Respect Personal Space: Be aware that some foreigners may be introverted, so while it's important to engage, also respect personal boundaries.
By taking these steps, both foreigners and Danes can build bridges of understanding and friendship.
- The empirical evidence supporting the difficulty foreigners face in forming friendships with Danes is not exclusive to the Expat Insider report by Internations; the 2020 "Expat Study" by Oxford Research also found similar results.
- Despite Denmark's low ranking in the 'Finding Friends' category, the quality of life for expats is analyzed in the Expat Insider report, encompassing factors such as ease of settling in and local friendliness.
- The struggle to make connections goes beyond personal anecdotes, as numerous foreigners who have settled in Denmark for work, study, or other reasons share stories of the challenges they face in building personal bonds with Danes.
- In Denmark, the majority of foreigners often forge friendships with other foreign non-Danish speakers, highlighting the issues in crossing cultural barriers.
- Mastering basic Danish can serve as a bridge between cultures, as Danes tend to appreciate the effort to learn their language and consider it a sign of respect.
- Joining local sports teams, language exchange groups, or clubs centering around shared interests can be an effective way for foreigners to meet like-minded individuals from both Danish and foreign communities.
- Utilizing social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook groups, or expat forums can offer opportunities to connect with people before arriving in Denmark and build a social network.
- Attending cultural events, festivals, and gatherings can provide chances for foreigners to interact with locals and immerse themselves in Danish culture.
- Open and proactive communication is crucial for building friendships, and foreigners should not hesitate to reach out and invite people to social events.
- A welcoming attitude from Danes goes a long way towards making foreigners feel more comfortable, and simply being open to engaging in conversations can help break down barriers.
- To foster connections, Danes can organize cultural events where foreigners can experience Danish traditions and share experiences, which can help build bridges of understanding.
- Establishing mentorship programs that provide foreigners with Danish hosts can help guide them through cultural nuances and make navigating everyday life easier, improving the overall experience for expats in Denmark.
