https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Denmark in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you’ve lived in Denmark for a while, you might be acquainted with social conventions particular to the Scandinavian country. For others who have recently relocated, certain things might come as a surprise. https://www.thelocal.dk/20180926/five-danish-social-norms-that-might-be-new-to-newcomers Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:22:19 +0200 five-danish-social-norms-that-might-be-new-to-newcomers You may have tasted kanelsnegle, romkugler and tebirkes, but have you tried these hard-to-find cakes yet? If not, you're missing out. https://www.thelocal.dk/20220930/five-classic-danish-cakes-you-need-to-try Fri, 30 Sep 2022 16:20:05 +0200 five-classic-danish-cakes-you-need-to-try It can be hard for newcomers to Denmark to make friends with Danes, who have settled routines and longstanding friendship groups. So what can you do to come in from the cold? https://www.thelocal.dk/20250905/how-can-newcomers-make-danish-friends-in-denmark Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:22:25 +0200 how-can-newcomers-make-danish-friends-in-denmark It’s easy to notice things like bicycles, candles and mixed weather when you move to or visit Denmark. But which everyday items are conspicuous by their absence? https://www.thelocal.dk/20240815/the-things-you-wont-see-in-denmark-that-are-common-elsewhere Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:05:42 +0200 the-things-you-wont-see-in-denmark-that-are-common-elsewhere If you ever drive past a Danish house with the national flag flying high and scores of small paper versions decorating the front garden, you are more likely to have stumbled upon a child’s birthday than a nationalist convention. https://www.thelocal.dk/20230420/why-do-danes-use-their-national-flag-as-a-birthday-banner Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:52:12 +0200 why-do-danes-use-their-national-flag-as-a-birthday-banner April 1st is a day of pranks in Denmark, just like in many other countries. Here are some of the best ones from Danish media and companies this year. https://www.thelocal.dk/20260401/pig-milk-and-beer-flavoured-condoms-denmarks-best-april-fool-jokes Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:03:12 +0200 pig-milk-and-beer-flavoured-condoms-denmarks-best-april-fool-jokes There’s a different culture around certain swear words in Denmark. One such word in particular can add an exciting new challenge to raising bilingual children, writes The Local Denmark’s Michael Barrett. Share your own views below. https://www.thelocal.dk/20231110/opinion-sometimes-i-wish-my-danish-in-laws-would-shut-the-fck-up Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:57:56 +0100 opinion-sometimes-i-wish-my-danish-in-laws-would-shut-the-fck-up If you get invited to a Danish home for the first time, there are a few small ways you can leave a positive impression. https://www.thelocal.dk/20201015/five-ways-to-make-a-good-impression-at-a-danish-home Thu, 15 Oct 2020 18:14:22 +0200 five-ways-to-make-a-good-impression-at-a-danish-home A faultless accent and broad vocabulary aren't the only ways to stop Danes immediately switching to English in your presence: these quirky interjections can help you fake fluency. https://www.thelocal.dk/20240719/strange-noises-you-can-make-in-danish-to-sound-like-a-local Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:57:15 +0200 strange-noises-you-can-make-in-danish-to-sound-like-a-local It’s hard to miss the campaign posters which have popped up all over Denmark since the election was announced earlier this month. But why do the Social Democrats have the party letter A, and why is the Danish People’s Party O? https://www.thelocal.dk/20260311/why-dont-denmarks-political-party-letters-make-sense Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:55:20 +0100 why-dont-denmarks-political-party-letters-make-sense Blending in with the locals in a new country is never easy, so at least make sure you avoid these Danish social faux-pas. https://www.thelocal.dk/20240405/seven-taboos-you-must-never-break-in-denmark Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:55:03 +0200 seven-taboos-you-must-never-break-in-denmark Drive through any Danish town or city and the country’s homegrown brand names are prominent everywhere, from Jysk furniture stores to Kims potato crisps. We look at where these names come from – and what they might have been instead. https://www.thelocal.dk/20251117/cock-nuts-and-lars-larsen-what-danish-brands-could-have-been-called Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:20:36 +0100 cock-nuts-and-lars-larsen-what-danish-brands-could-have-been-called Understandably, there's no such thing as a 'danish' in Denmark. But there's a reason the country's name is synonymous with flakey pastries worldwide — Denmark excels at treats. https://www.thelocal.dk/20230505/six-sweet-treats-you-should-be-able-to-identify-if-you-live-in-denmark Fri, 05 May 2023 15:54:23 +0200 six-sweet-treats-you-should-be-able-to-identify-if-you-live-in-denmark It can be frustrating having to regularly check which date is meant by a given week number, but there’s method in the numerical merry-go-round. https://www.thelocal.dk/20220826/why-do-danes-insist-on-using-week-numbers-instead-of-dates Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:16:28 +0200 why-do-danes-insist-on-using-week-numbers-instead-of-dates During the cold and dark early months of the year, one of the bright spots in Denmark is the national favourite ‘fastelavnsbolle’, a traditional pre-Lent treat that reminds you spring isn’t too far away. https://www.thelocal.dk/20250121/fastelavnsbolle-why-is-the-classic-danish-cake-a-january-and-february-favourite Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:46:56 +0100 fastelavnsbolle-why-is-the-classic-danish-cake-a-january-and-february-favourite There are a surprising number of unwritten rules when it comes to greeting people throughout the Christmas season. So when should you say 'god jul', and what do you say after Christmas but before New Year? https://www.thelocal.dk/20241217/when-do-you-start-saying-merry-christmas-in-denmark Tue, 17 Dec 2024 18:55:27 +0100 when-do-you-start-saying-merry-christmas-in-denmark Denmark’s cold, dark months can be formidable for even the most resilient internationals. So how can we actively embrace winter in our adopted country, rather than just waiting for the days to get longer again? https://www.thelocal.dk/20241108/dont-just-wait-for-it-to-end-how-to-get-through-denmarks-long-dark-winters Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:28:22 +0100 dont-just-wait-for-it-to-end-how-to-get-through-denmarks-long-dark-winters Subtle and ironic or superficial and stupid? We asked our readers what they thought about the Danish sense of humour. https://www.thelocal.dk/20251107/i-enjoy-jokes-about-swedes-your-verdict-on-the-danish-sense-of-humour Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:09:32 +0100 i-enjoy-jokes-about-swedes-your-verdict-on-the-danish-sense-of-humour Danes are famously private, with neighbours offering no more than a quick 'hej hej' in the hallway if they’re unlucky enough to pass by at the same time. Small talk, known as 'småsnak', makes them very uncomfortable. https://www.thelocal.dk/20231130/sig-hej-what-are-the-real-rules-for-greeting-people-in-denmark Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:41:20 +0100 sig-hej-what-are-the-real-rules-for-greeting-people-in-denmark As the snow piles up in Denmark, it's as important as ever to dress appropriately to shield yourself from the freezing, wet conditions outside. https://www.thelocal.dk/20231206/snow-ice-and-wind-how-to-dress-for-the-winter-in-denmark Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:39:52 +0100 snow-ice-and-wind-how-to-dress-for-the-winter-in-denmark