https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Norway in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Skipping the seemingly voluntary act of 'dugnad' has seen some residents in Norwegian housing associations fined. But is this allowed, and what do the rules say? https://www.thelocal.no/20240412/can-you-really-be-fined-for-skipping-dugnad-in-norway Fri, 12 Apr 2024 11:07:22 +0200 can-you-really-be-fined-for-skipping-dugnad-in-norway Every year, a survey dives into the sexual habits of Norwegians, and this year’s findings are likely to leave many feeling... unsatisfied. https://www.thelocal.no/20260422/sad-numbers-new-survey-reveals-frustrated-sex-lives-of-norwegians Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:10:24 +0200 sad-numbers-new-survey-reveals-frustrated-sex-lives-of-norwegians How do you keep in touch with friends, neighbors, or colleagues in Norway? You might need to change your approach and try out some apps you never used before (or stopped using a while ago). https://www.thelocal.no/20260407/explained-why-dont-norwegians-use-whatsapp Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:55:11 +0200 explained-why-dont-norwegians-use-whatsapp If you see a film, restaurant or album given a six in Norway, it's been met with the highest possible accolades rather than middling reviews. So, where does this unique ranking system come from? https://www.thelocal.no/20220826/reader-question-why-do-norwegians-rate-things-out-of-six Fri, 26 Aug 2022 13:21:01 +0200 reader-question-why-do-norwegians-rate-things-out-of-six Volunteering is a big deal in Norway, and new arrivals are often told to get involved to learn the language, meet new friends and improve their odds of getting a job. https://www.thelocal.no/20250123/explained-norways-proud-tradition-of-volunteering Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:46:54 +0100 explained-norways-proud-tradition-of-volunteering Norway has a reputation for healthy outdoor lifestyles, but what are the recommended diet habits in the active Nordic nation? https://www.thelocal.no/20240815/limit-snacks-eat-more-fish-what-makes-the-perfect-norwegian-diet Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:31:52 +0200 limit-snacks-eat-more-fish-what-makes-the-perfect-norwegian-diet While Norwegian traits of indirect communication and politeness generally make for pleasant social interactions, they can also give rise to passive-aggressive behaviour. https://www.thelocal.no/20231212/five-norwegian-passive-aggressive-habits-and-how-to-handle-them Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:53:54 +0100 five-norwegian-passive-aggressive-habits-and-how-to-handle-them Norwegians are generally calm and peaceful. Avoiding confrontation is a big part of the culture, and getting them upset takes extra effort — compared to many other places in the world, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get angry at times. https://www.thelocal.no/20251010/norways-social-codes-you-need-to-know-so-you-dont-offend-the-locals Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:27:45 +0200 norways-social-codes-you-need-to-know-so-you-dont-offend-the-locals Norwegian winters regularly see temperatures dip down below -10c or even -20c depending on where you live. Therefore, making sure your kids are properly equipped for the weather is essential. https://www.thelocal.no/20240103/how-to-dress-your-children-for-the-cold-weather-in-norway Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:21:34 +0100 how-to-dress-your-children-for-the-cold-weather-in-norway From not worshipping at the temples of frozen pizza and cross-country skiing to littering on hikes and talking smack about Norwegian food, these actions – even when unintentional – are likely to annoy a lot of Norwegians. https://www.thelocal.no/20230214/18-sure-fire-ways-to-offend-a-norwegian Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:40:29 +0100 18-sure-fire-ways-to-offend-a-norwegian If you're visiting Norway and want to blend in seamlessly with the locals on buses, trams, and trains, this guide will go through all the bases you need to cover if you want to pull off seeming Norwegian. https://www.thelocal.no/20240702/how-to-fake-being-a-local-on-norways-public-transport-system Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:00:07 +0200 how-to-fake-being-a-local-on-norways-public-transport-system There seems to be a never-ending stream of 'Scandinavian lifestyle trends' in international glossy magazines, but only some of them are worth pursuing, while others are all hype and little reward. https://www.thelocal.no/20240704/three-scandinavian-lifestyle-trends-that-are-actually-worth-trying-and-three-that-arent Thu, 04 Jul 2024 13:53:37 +0200 three-scandinavian-lifestyle-trends-that-are-actually-worth-trying-and-three-that-arent Moving to a new country comes with plenty of unexpected lessons and surprises. Norway is no different, and here are six things you'll need to know before the move. https://www.thelocal.no/20240507/five-useful-things-to-know-before-you-move-to-norway Tue, 07 May 2024 18:43:46 +0200 five-useful-things-to-know-before-you-move-to-norway Autumn in Norway brings about chilly rains, shorter days, and unpredictable weather. Fortunately, some tried-and-true hacks can help you enjoy the season. https://www.thelocal.no/20240924/six-hacks-to-help-you-get-through-autumn-in-norway Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:48:58 +0200 six-hacks-to-help-you-get-through-autumn-in-norway Birthday party rules, giving sharp knives to six-year-olds, and a lack of hot, nutritious meals at school and kindergarten. These are some of the biggest surprises reported by foreigners bringing up children in Norway. https://www.thelocal.no/20240104/culture-shocks-the-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-raising-kids-in-norway Thu, 04 Jan 2024 14:02:13 +0100 culture-shocks-the-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-raising-kids-in-norway The Norwegians are, as a nation, subject to quite a few stereotypes and myths, at least among their Nordic neighbours. But who are Norwegians really and how do they spend their time? https://www.thelocal.no/20250724/hiking-office-work-and-teslas-how-does-the-average-norwegian-really-live Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:12:19 +0200 hiking-office-work-and-teslas-how-does-the-average-norwegian-really-live What's considered good house manners to Norwegian school kids decked out in jumpsuits and partying in the runup to their exams are among the culture shocks in Norway that foreigners told us about in a survey. https://www.thelocal.no/20230524/the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway Wed, 24 May 2023 16:19:02 +0200 the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway You don’t need a faultless accent and broad vocabulary to convince people of your Norwegian credentials, as there are a few quirky interjections you can make to fake fluency. https://www.thelocal.no/20250311/strange-noises-you-can-make-in-norwegian-to-sound-like-a-local Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:44:35 +0100 strange-noises-you-can-make-in-norwegian-to-sound-like-a-local High wages mean that tipping isn’t necessary in many cases in Norway. However, if you want to leave a gratuity for good service, here’s what’s considered polite. https://www.thelocal.no/20240702/how-much-should-tourists-really-tip-in-norway Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:49:28 +0200 how-much-should-tourists-really-tip-in-norway If you are single in Norway you might be eager to explore the dating scene and meet new people. But what are the best options? https://www.thelocal.no/20250616/what-are-the-best-dating-options-if-youre-single-in-norway Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:20:12 +0200 what-are-the-best-dating-options-if-youre-single-in-norway