The thing that as a Dane shocked me the most about this video is that you can actually get a credit card WITHOUT a PIN. I've never heard of that before...
It has been here for a while now - like all of 2016 atleast. The catch is, that if you buy more than a few hundred DKK you'll be asked for your pin number anyway.
I'm from a town in England and used to be in the local youth theatre which went on an exchange trip to Denmark. We went to Svendborg to live with the members of their local drama group. We got to live 'danishly' for 10 days. I cannot begin to tell you how amazing, wonderful and life changing it was. The contrast between how they live their lives and how we do, is so different! It's as though we had gone to a different planet. I don't notice the atmosphere that surrounds us in England, but in Denmark, you could cut the feeling of love, happiness and contentment with a knife. I can safely say I experienced a bit of heaven on earth. Denmark Jeg elsker dig!
the "rudeness", "impoliteness" and bikes is Copenhagen. If you go basicly anywhere else than Copenhagen will it be diffrent. I have been in Copenhagen and I notice the same things as you, but almost anywhere else, are their not at all as many bikes and a lot more kindness. Dont call a hole country impolite for how they are in one city. I live on the other site of Denmark and it is totaly diffrent here👍
"Don't call a hole in the country impolite" - Incredible how you managed to both bash the impolite people, and behave very impolitely in the same sentence :P
+Jan Frederiksen Sorry, maybe I am wrong there cause I am Danish (funnely enough😂), but I see many amrican/english speaking people write like that. I guess I should have Said "please dont Call a whole country impolite"?✌🏼
jeg har lagt meget mærke til at de, i de små byer, om det er i sønderjylland eller på sjælland, er vildt morgenvenlige og hvis man låser øjne vil de 99/100 hilse
I would say that we are really really REALLY polite! We do say: "please" etc. We have good service in the restaurant, maybe you went to the wrong ones? And we do talk on the streets with our friends, just not with strangers.
Fine Aagaard Zethsen Generelt er den service, man får i Danmark væsentligt lavere end mange andre steder. Jeg tror, det bunder i, at de fleste får fuld løn for at betjene folk, modsat USA, hvor meget af deres løn består af drikkepenge. Sekundært tror jeg, at vi i Danmark ikke har den store tradition for service(folk går ikke så meget op i det), og folk ligesom er blevet vant til det. Til gengæld er jeg enig med dig i, at vi som udgangspunkt er flinke. Jeg vil dog sige, at der er findes folk, som også er ligeså direkte, som han nævner i det i filmen oven for. :)
Lucas Elkjær Ja selvfølgelig er der nogen, der ikke er så flinke, men generelt er vi. Selvfølgelig har tjenerne nogle dårlige dage eller noget andet, der gør, at de ikke lige har den store lyst til at være på og friske. Hvis jeg får dårlig service, så siger jeg det, selvfølgelig på en pæn måde, og mere indirekte. :-) Men alt i alt synes jeg, at servicen er god (y)
Fine Aagaard Zethsen Nok det han kommer ind på med at vi er mere direkte. For at være helt ærlig vil jeg hellere have en tjener der kommer direkte til sagen end en der begynder og spørge ind til alt muligt.
***** We are actually very independently and creatively thinking people, we just follow the law because we are respectful and don't want anarchy - things would go mad in our society if everyone just started doing whatever they wanted without thinking about anyone else because they don't like some of the rules...
Tine Marie Nørgaard Jeg er glad for at møde dig her. Jeg boede i København en ganske lang tid siden, og jeg har stadig venner der. Jeg elsker dit land! Knus og kram, kaere Tine Marie!
Thank you for the kind words. We don't consider it that big a deal really. But then again. We aren't religious here so. But yes. Which is why we wish for Americans to enjoy the same benefits we have
@@kriss3d there are many Americans who are absolutely convinced that you are a socialist country. Also, even though Denmark is not a religious country, are there churches? Are there church-goers? Is there religious freedom?
@@ElizaDolittle Yes we have churches ( over 2000 ), some was made in the 1100's and some are very new. Mostly old people are church-goers. It's a free country, so you can pick any religion you like, or you can pick non of them.
Damn people are so butt hurt in this comment section. The guy wasn't trying to be rude. He was simply describing his stay and what he noticed here. Get your panties out your butt!
I guess it's because it's a shame that he makes it sound like this is a definite presentation of the country as opposed to his own experience. I am absolutely willing to believe that he might have experienced the things he is mentioning, but it's saddening to have negative representation that is not accurate. :)
He's not trying to tell people what he's noticed. In some videos he's telling you what you will like and dislike. He's telling you what will shock you. These are the worst kind of video you should watch before visiting another country. I have travelled to over 100 countries as well as 42 US States. I couldn't t even find many similarities between LA and San Francisco, except they are in the same state. Go 50km outside London and its totally different. Tallinn is totally different to tarts, only similarity is they are both in Estonia. I could go on and on. Wolter has no clue.
I envy Denmark's introverted nature... Here in the U.S people will talk to you for any reason at all and I am not a fan! Went to Finland and I loved it there and I hope to live in Denmark one day.
You are so wrong about some of these facts. People in Denmark are very polite and we DO make eye contact on the street. I hate being outdoors and so does a lot of my friends. A thing you are right about is the safety. But seriously, the Danes who leave their children outside are crazy.
+Julia Malling That was absolutely my experience, re: the people making eye contact and being polite. And the talking? I think he must have avoided the bars/pubs. Or maybe learning a little Danish goes a long way, but I never wanted for much in my visits, and company and courtesy least of all!
+Julia Malling Obviously we're still 5.6 million people, so these facts don't cover all of us. But i do think that we enjoy the outdoors a lot compared to many other countries in similar climates, like the UK.
Thanks +Julia cause I am danish to and we are very polite and in the trains do we actually talk to each other sometimes. and if you get schussed in the train it's because that there's parts of the train where you can chose t sit and so there is somewhere in the train where you are not allowed to talk
I am in love with Danmark and I went last summer. When I saw the little mermaid I was not dissapointed. I've seen people be dissapointed. It was perfect in my eyes. Take me back. Edit, 4 years later, October 2020: Nobody is reading this but I came here to say that in just over a year, I will be moving to Denmark. This country has been my childhood obsession for many years, even before i posted this comment in 2016. Jeg er ikke god til dansk, men, prøver jeg hver dag. Hvor længe har jeg læst dansk? i seks år, tænker jeg.
@@Real_MisterSir haha well when I said “just over a year” I really meant 2 years. My plan was to attend university there. However, over the course of time, plans started to change. It turned into moving there in 2023 for university and now it has turned into moving there in... 2027 at the earliest, as I have decided to study a different course in a university in my home country. Kinda sucks. I was over in Copenhagen back in November and wahhh the place is just as beautiful as it always was. While over there, I bought myself a book in Danish, as well as a Danish dictionary, so I’ll be able to improve my Danish. Now, I’m studying for my very important exams to get into university. I’ll be taking a gap year then, so I’ll have a free year to just study Danish and do whatever. Then, throughout my time at university, I will study Danish at home and gradually improve. I do also want to learn other languages during that time though. It’s strange how plans change over time. Even if I don’t end up living in Danmark, I will always have a love for the place, and I will always be travelling there. Thank you for bringing me back to this comment. It’s interesting to see how my plans have evolved over time. I’ve planned on moving to Copenhagen for university since 2014, and I only decided a few months ago that this was no longer my plan. In the end, I think it would be better to arrive in Danmark with a university degree, and the ability to enter into a better paying job, that requires a certain skill level, instead of having to deal with the pressure of university, the pressure of studying the language, and the pressure of being in a new country, all at once. I don’t deserve to be in Danmark yet. I need to study harder and work harder and earn my place there. And I’m ok with that. I’m ok with having to work for a few more years before I can move there. So, I will study hard for my exams, I’ll get a place in university at home, spend a gap year studying Danish and other stuff, go to university for 4 years, and maybe in 2027 arrive in Danmark? Wow that’s a long time away.
I know Denmark is a small country. But please don't make it sound as if Copenhagen is the entirety of Denmark. I don't live there myself, but I know, since I grew up here, that most of us in the northern regions certainly do smile, strike conversation on the street and apologize, should we have caused an inconvenience.
You really did make some of the best points about Danish culture in this video. I completely agree with your take on Danish Pastry. It's the best. Germany has something equally great, but the two countries have somewhat different national pastry specialties, so the Danish pastry is unique and there's only one place you'll find something almost equally danish in the US: A small town in California famous for this very reason, I forgot the name just now (it's some Danish sounding name if I remember correctly), but it should be easy to look it up. Also about Danish food: You forgot their pork liver paste (in Danish it's called 'leverpostej'). There's also the pork meatballs called 'frikadeller'... Don't ask me what that word means, I have no idea. :) I also agree about the eeriness about the Danish silence. Silence permeates Danish culture in more ways than any non-Dane can imagine, and though I've lived here for most of my life I've never gotten used to it. Most Danes themselves don't notice it because they've grown up with it, it's part of their native character, if you will, and I probably only do notice it because I've been an outsider in this country all of my life, since the day I was born, in fact (but that's a different story). You're right about the public transportation system, they will leave on time, sometimes right under your nose, even if you've been running to catch the bus at the last second some buss drivers will leave anyway and be smug about it on top (but they're the very bad examples). On the other hand you're wrong about the public transport being on time if you're talking about the bus system. Trains are mainly on time, but buses most certainly are not. I have on more than one occasion waited almost two hours past schedule, and waiting between 5 to 20 m in past schedule is not uncommon at all. Thanks for making and sharing this video, I think it was a very nice treat. :) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ P.S. Allow me to share something that most people and even the Danes themselves don't know about Denmark: Denmark is not the happiest country int he world! Why not?.. Because of either one or both of the following: 1. - Danes do not believe in the existence or possibility of happiness. 2. - Danes do not understand the concept of happiness, they don't know what it means. These are not my claims, they are what Danes have told me again and again for as long back as I can remember (sometime during my teens when I first began asking people if they are happy, what they think about happiness, what happiness means or what it is to them personally, and if they considered happiness to be an important element/part of life). I have lived in Denmark through most of my life and I am very sure about my claims regarding Danes and Happiness because I have conducted an ongoing study about this very subject consisting mainly of questions and answers (listed in parenthesis in the passage above) taking place between myself and more or less every individual Dane I get to talk to, and my research has been running over a span of almost three decades. Granted, my study has been done on a purely personal basis without any support or funding (I'd never have been given funds to make a real empirical study due to various factors, one being the fact that I have no official degree in anything), but I can assure you that my findings are nevertheless _very_ consistent.
As an American “minding your own business” is unheard of I wish it were more like that here People think you’re upset if you’re not smiling It’s very annoying
@@josepartida1711 really? Id love to visit usa but I couldn't live where yiu can't shop in peace. I can take a walk through the most busy part of the entire Denmark. The long pedestrian street. And get bothered by nobody. Tourists are very welcome to talk to us or ask for directions or advise and such. We gladly help. But in stores and such, none of the clerks will address you unless you ask them for something. Generally people are assumed to not ranting to be bothered.
A lot of Americans don't even have a pin number. You don't use your pin number when you pay in the US, often you just write your signature, but sometimes you have to enter your zip code.
Well, in København its loud and noisy, and people tend to be more direct (rude), visit the contryside, there you will find quiet and peace, and more polite people ;)
It's so fun to hear this when you're Danish 😂 A lot of these things are just like... "Well yeah of course???" 😂 But great video and glad you liked Denmark ❤️
I'm half Danish and half Italian and I go to Denmark every year because my father lives there but like...Italy is a fucking mess and every time I get to Denmark my soul gets purified lmao
Helene- Italy is a wonderful mess- two different cultures to be sure; like night and day ! I prefer Italians myself as I like being friendly and open with people ! Danes can be spooky !
I think you feel like People dont smile and so on, on the streets because you where in copenhagen. try Odense or Århus or Aalborg :) specialy Odense ;)
***** Haha, that's how it goes. I will be your witness to that because I am one of the Danes giving angry looks at people when I see them jaywalking xD
+oggo loggo That's actually not true. Cops in Denmark (I'm not aware about other places in the world) actually have a quota to fulfill, so at the end of the year cops pay special attention to it because it makes it very easy to get past the yearly quota. You'd probably have to know a cop to know this, but it's actually not that uncommon as one might think.
I would say Danes are very friendly, especially in the service industry. Sure, they are kind of relaxed and get orders wrong in restaurants (seems to happen to me quite often), but still the waiters are super friendly as a rule. Especially compared to London or Paris.
jonas olsen That's not true, the theft rate in copenhagen is really low, and most is "asking for it" (Having your back open etc) And gangs are very small and mostly keep to themselves *Out of all the gang shootings through the years only 2 innocents have been hit
Im spanish and I have visited Denmark this winter. Its so beatifull, the restaurant have a good service compared to Spain, well, compared to Spain, Denmark is THE paradise, except for the cold. Omg I miss ginger beer :D
Its not the cashier that wont accept your card, but the machine. Atleast here in the west. If the machine doesnt work.. well the cashiers cant do magic.
I'm a Dane, living in Denmark, 25 km north of Copenhagen. Side note, I spent 16 years in Vancouver, CA. 3) Babies left outside... my mom did this with me 35 years ago, but because of migration, etc... the Danes don't do this as much anymore. The same thing with dogs, there's an "epidemic" with stealing dogs leashed outside the grocery stores 4) lock your bike! People, especially drunk people going home at night "borrow" bikes without bringing them back. I "left" my wallet on a bench in Elsinore. When I realised this 35 minutes after leaving the bench, I went back, and it was still there, incl. content. I was amazed. 7) Happiest country in the world, yet 1 in 6 are on anti-depressants :(. I'm constantly annoyed at the ambivalence (and rudeness). 8) It's all about the BUTTER! Remoulade is mayo, onion, pickles and mustard, etc. 10) The National Bank wants to be the first cashless society in the World... this pretty much solidifies your statement about cash. Gov. just changed the law regarding cash after 10 pm. Stores no longer need to accept cash after this time. You've been warned ;).
You are absolutely so right in this movie. (Y) Though a few minor details is a bit off, like yes the waiters in Denmark do try to give good service, but as we usually do not give any tips in Denmark because of high salaries (and high taxes), the waiters are more focused on serving as many as possible (again like with the directness and fast forward work "policy") instead of giving extra great service for a few for the extra tips. And there are other minor things a bit off like with hot dogs, where we use yes remoulade but also mustard and tomato ketchup and so on. But all in all a great and very precise description of my country Denmark, and though I do not currently live in Copenhagen myself, I have both family and have also previously lived there and a lot of other places here in Denmark - and now currently live Aalborg. So thank you very much for your absolutely great video about Denmark and Copenhagen. Best Regards Claus Hjortholm Eberhard
Im from Denmark. Where I live there is party almost everyday. I live in "Hellerup (Denmark's richest place). I bike everyday and I am outside right now. I see a lot of Danes that are having eye contact with me and laugh and smile to me when I walk by!
Been to Copenhagen a lot of times and you nailed it. To my own bias i have only lived in Jutland and it is worlds apart from CPH. However if you have a dog and go for a walk you are in for a treat. People a very friendly and a walk usually takes 1-2 hours because you stop and chat with every dog owner and they have these fenced off areas in the fields and woods in and around the cities where the dogs can play and enjoy themselves on their own, while the owners sit on a bench talking with a mug of coffee:)
+cryz8210 just my experiences in Denmark. I do these for a number of cities and countries including my own. Still we had a fun time in Denmark. Can't wait to go back.
Wolters World And we'll welcome you, I'm sure. Try to go to Århus, though. as far as I'm concerned, most danes agree that Copenhageners are kinda dicks.
+Wolters World As a Dane, I think you are very accurate in your description of us, I have to say. When I visited USA and entered a store, and the shopassistent said "Hey, how are you today?", I had to check if there were someone behind me in the store, because I didn't think she was talking to me, but perhaps to a friend behind me (yeah, she WAS in fact talking to me). We are not used to that kind of openness. We are open people, if you drink beers with us though :) But we don't give a lot of ourselves to strangers, but are kind if you ask for directions. And you are seen kind of as a loon, if you start talking to strangers on the bus or train, unless both parties are drunk and in a good mood. I know that a lot of the Danes who have commented is misinterpreting the video. You don't mean that we are rude, but that we at first can seem a little rude - there's a clear difference for me :) Keep up the great videos!
+Marius Skjold Knudsen Copenhagen now. It's a big city thing, I know, I have lived in a village near Roskilde for most of my life. There people greet each other, even when you don't know each other. In Copenhagen, people normally only greet friends and close ones, that they meet up with.
Pretty much spot on, I'm Danish. Always fun/interesting to see how others sees us. atm I have a great correspondence with an American lady, where we exchange views on how Europeans sees Americans and the other way around.
Everything he's saying is correct when it comes to Copenhagen. I'm from Aarhus. In Jylland you will be met in a different way, people make eye contact and are overall nice to foreigners and to each other. Many of his other points in my opinion counts as true facts throughout the country. Great video! Subscribed =)
Err.. because it's a nice thing to do and make you and other people feel better? No ok, maybe I think your question is weird because I'm Italian... But really, talking to a strangers will get you richer, connecting with people may change your life for the better. Being always by yourself doesn't make you grow that much, and I 'm saying it even though I'm an introvert 😁
I'm from Denmark Copenhagen and most of the things that you're telling about Denmark is not true.. About the rudeness it's about how you're brought up. Example.. My parents brought me up to be polite and nice but my cousin isn't brought up that way. Also people do talk to each other when they walk around in Copenhagen. Also smørrebrød is not white bread but wholemeal bread and the place you have gotten yours is obviously bad. Also a fact that you probably didn't know but you can go to the Danish hospitals for free. You don't have to have an insurance. Just wanted to let you know because to me you're giving a really bad rewiew about Denmark and I don't like the people see this and think that Denmark is a very bad place just because the things that you have told them that I'm not so true.
Sorry, but I live in Denmark. We talk a lot with others when we go out. I'm getting new friends almost everytime I'm going out. We always talk to strangers and having a great time. I live in Copenhagen.
Are from Denmark and even hearing these makes me feel weird lol, don't live in CPH but in Jylland (Jutland) and here we more talk to each other while going around but true we are very quiet to that point. Never knew it's uncommon to have like a road for bikes so they aren't on the same as the cars which can cause accidents, in big towns don't walk on them else you'll indeed get hit for sure while over here where I live there's a bike road but no road to walkers so we just use the bike road but walk on the side where they come at us so we can hear music or stuff and not get hit behind. Ah yes, remoulade is a good thing like mustard got down a grade for remoulade xD again never thought that was weird. Indeed our bakeries are good and we have lot's of em so nothing beats stuff from there, now that I think of it all we are kinda direct but if someone holds the door for me I say thanks or I bump into someone I say sorry so I guess people are just used to being nice to each other even without getting a thank you back. Bonus fact: with the Danish accent your English can sound if you maybe got too many drinks (I cringed each time I talked but thank god I have changed it now) so politicians sounds horrible and some barely use it so when they do it's like a potato in their mouth lol but then again we have a lot of old people as politicians. Feel free to ask me anything about Denmark how they are or so!
Regarding the cross walk; You might actually get a fine if you cross when there's a red light (thats NOT the case in e.g. Sweden, where I'm from). The same thing concerns bicycles. Even if there is no car near, if there's a red light, it means you cannot walk/drive. It was quite shocking, even for me as a swede, the first time I saw that; someone that got a ticket because they rode their bicycle against a red light!
Card vs. Cash thing is true but Copenhagen is one of few places in Europe and the US (other than Target) where I have experienced stores not accepting VISA or Master cards issued in another country - even if the country is two miles away! You either have the local Dancard or you take your business elsewhere. Also, you pay for parking everywhere but the meters have been replaced with an app, which you cannot download if you do not have access to the Danish app store, which of course you don't have if you don't have a Danish credit card. The same goes for postage stamps, which are hard to come by since they have been replaced by a code that you buy through an app that you cannot download unless you are Danish.
Regarding us being the happiest country in the world, I think it's more of a cultural pressure thing. We're almost afraid of saying we're unhappy. If you make a survey asking whether people feel content and happy, we'd generally be more inclined to saying yes than no, regardless of the truth. We've basically learned that if you aren't happy, you're a buzzkill, and that idea probably affects our decision making process subconsciously when asked in a survey whether we're happy. Or something like that. We're also one of the countries that use the most anti-depressants; I wouldn't be surprised if in reality, we're one of the least happy european countries, although I wouldn't bet on it. The elleventh thing that'll shock you about Denmark: Nearly all of us speak fluent english. No need to learn danish!
Ever since I've heard that "happiness science" is based on self reporting happiness levels ONLY, I've wondered if the results can be traced to cultural norms such as the one of which you speak. On the other hand, does saying that you're happy have a meaningful effect on one's sense of joy?
Darnell Brookes There can be quit a big difference, it depend on who you compare to but there is quit a difference even though there is some simelarities.
I know many chastise danish people for it, but it is just your culture :) yes and Danish speak English very well. We have different languages here in Britain, there is Welsh and Cornish, both parts of England but speak a different language :)
Aquavite is originally a norwegian thing. The Danish, Swedish etc is made with grain, while the norwegian original is made with potato. The color comes from the Sherry-barrels they're matured in, and the recepies are strict. Served in room temperature. The blanc(white) ones are a different story all together, as they have a much shorter maturing period in steel barrels. Here it's more freedom to flavor adding, they go really well with seafood-based dishes, and should be served chilled. Not to say the grain ones isn't good, but I mean...facts... Bitters are what you want in Denmark, oh and of course 'Gløgg' (gluewhine) from the oldest waterhole in the country: 'Wiids Vinstue' (Just go there. Now.) I miss you, Denmark! 🇩🇰 Big love from Norway 🇳🇴 See you soon.. 🤘
Im danish myself, and this is my appenion about denmark and danes: We do talk a lot to other people. He went to copenhagen (on danish: København), which is, with 1295686 dwellers is for me who lives in a big village (frederikshavn, 23501 dwellers) unbelivable. i went to copenhagen once, and it was very very frustrating and big, and had a constant noice of cars and motorcycles. for every 5 cars, 3 of them were taxies. i my village, you are lucky if you see 3 at a day! so if you travels to For an example, hjørring, vejle, aalborg, or bornholm, you will get a much better look of how denmark is, though, if you wanna learn abut denmark, bornholm is a lot different, as they are half swedish. we are almost always outside, though a normal temperature in the middle of spring is 12 degrees celsius and same in middle of fall. we really like hot dogs, and smørrebrød, which i thoud was mind blowing, when he kind of said they did'nt have in america. normally, smørrebrød is 3/2 or 1/2 part of all food at a day. i hope you learned something of this, (which i dont think you did) and most important: that is not how denmark is! you shouldent believe him, though what he said about the rules, bikes, the safe, outdoor life, hot dogs remoulade and smørrebrød and credit cards is right. The thing about babies is 50% right. it does happen, that someone let the babies outside, but we dont call child protection stuff. I did'nt even know it existed!
When you say “credit card is king”, it’s actually not true. DEBIT card is king! Many stores and restaurants can’t accept credit cards, but some do, like the groceries store “Føtex”, but DEBIT card really is king here!
Not every body, 90 %of All us citizens have never luft their state, and Think ikea is a country, USA are generaly a geografikaly low educatet country, a b country if You lige, when it Comes to education and equality.
If You should rate countrys/ regions in a/b/C the it would be. A Scandinavian countrys Russia, north Korea, south Korea, mid Europe (England, France, spain, italy, Portugal, Belgien, germany) and so,. B. USA, Canada Australia, south america, New Zealand, Singapore. North african countrys, south africa,. C. The rest.
+Ravn Rike and woops we get a fanatic blaming everything on immigrants! If you could drag your head out of your ass an look at some statistics, you'll find that the majority of child abuse are caused by the natives. Be it in Norway, or in denmark.
Its a very vague statement, leaving a child outside a café or resturant if you sit nearby the door and have the baby in a rather close and not a long distance then YES it is normal, leaving it unattended or out of view is NOT normal !
Having visited Danmark it is my opinion that the Danes communicate telepathically! Yes it is quiet, even walking around Kobenhaven at nite, it is so quiet! As to the bicyclists of Kobenhaven, they are insane, rude and perhaps suicidal! Another good vid , Wolter!
Mark I absolutely love watching your videos. They are extremely helpful. Keep up the great work man!!! Best wishes to you and Jocelyn and the kids for 2017!
All places of business (shops, restaurants etc.) are obliged to accept cash and to give you change and it's no excuse that they haven't got the required change, nor can they insist on you paying with a card (but if you choose to pay with a card you must have a pincode).The only exception I can think of is when you buy a ticket on a public bus, here they usually have a sign stating that the driver is not obliged to give change to an amount exeeding the nearest 100 DKK. This is done in an attempt to ensure the drivers safety. That said, it is true that a lot of danes use their cards a lot when paying, and that most places of business often prefer electronic payment.
This might be an old video, but in case you see this comment I just want to tell you that your research on the country is quite off. To be honest, yes the first impression is like it is but we care more about eating healthy than using our "yellow sauce" which is definitely an overstatement. We don't use a lot of remoulade and smørrebrød are expensive as hell so that's only for celebrations. But yes, sadly we do love our hot dogs. I don't eat as I've chosen to care for myself and not eat unhealthy foods but in general, there is SOO much that you're missing out on, for example if you have the chance to go, visit Christiania, which is kind of a special place. There is just a certain vibe there. Great video but some of the information was a bit overstated.
Scandinavia is safe because of the people helping each other. If you come here and do crime anyone see it can interact. And we care for each other. Feel safe ☺
Danish people are lovely, but Copenhagen is one of the few cities that makes London look cheap. Having said that its great to visit in the winter . Just be prepared , because it gets properly cold.
I agree with you on most of those things you mentioned but like a few others have mentioned, Copenhagen is completely different to the rest of Denmark. I've lived in Denmark for 11 years or so and it really depends where you are when it comes to kindness / rudeness. I recently moved to a small village on Jylland and I can't go out for a run without someone saying Hello when passing me by, either walking, running or on a bike. By the way, the "Remoulade" is a MUST for eating French Fries. On another note, feel free to come visit the Faroe Islands sometime in the near future. It's where I'm from and I'll be moving back there soon. So if you're even there then feel free to hit me up and I could show you around :) Cheers!
I loved your video. :D So funny. ;) Not an accurate picture of Denmark, But only being in Copenhagen for a bit how could it be. Still a great video though I laughed a lot. Mostly cause most of the things you are talking about I have experienced completely differently. :D
its funny how you call it danish pastry when we call it viennabread! we imported a lot of swiss people back in the days! they somehow all became bakers and invented vienna bread!
we actually talk but it might not be in Copenhagen but in small towns u can hear people talk alot! and when you´re in the grocery store u talk with the cashier (: and sometimes they say exuse me and those things. (:
The so-called bad service really is a matter of perspective. As you said yourself, we enjoy our privacy and as a consequence thereof we don't appreciate some invasive waiter trying to earn his/her tip during a romantic, cozy, serious etc. dinner - it's how we prefer it and by that metric it is excellent service, again by local standards. Also, we gladly pay up for what might seem costly dinners because it includes the tip (/decent wage) - from my perspective, dealing with the tip in the end ultimately ruins the service however good it was prior. But it's your culture and I deal with it - especially as your culture is what I came to experience as a tourist. Don't get me wrong, I haven't taken offense of any sorts. It's just not the first time I hear foreigners talk about it and I don't get why you'd expect us to enjoy our dinners differently from how we like living our lives? I think it makes perfect sense.
I feel that if you spent more time in Denmark, Copenhagen or otherwise, you would find Danes to be very social, polite and down right happy people. I know well from many visits, and my family that lives there. My father is a Dane, and he is a great man. Every time we have visited Denmark it feels safe and exciting. The people are welcoming, do a little research on behaviors of our country and you might have a better experience. Unlike America, bikes are a valid form of transportation and are respected.
you are almost right about everything but i can hear that you've only been in copenhagen not all danes i like that the people from copenhagen is alot different from example jylland....☺ sorry for my bad english have a nice day from the dane.....☺
The thing about you don't need to lock your bike... That is completely wrong! I live in one of the smallest cities on Fyn, and 3/5 of my bikes have been stolen... Same with my friend.
You won't ALMOST get killed by a bike every day. It's true, we really bike a lot here in Denmark, but we're careful and doesn't want to hurt anyone (most of us)
9.40 i didn't know the cash problem! if you pay with relatively the same amount i dont see the problem.. i can see it if you have to get change though! everyone in denmark knows to withdraw what they need and always pays within a 2 percent margin so most cashbacks arent needed!
The thing that as a Dane shocked me the most about this video is that you can actually get a credit card WITHOUT a PIN. I've never heard of that before...
As a Norwegian, I've never head about that either
Same. I mean what if if someone steals their card? Wouldn't they be able to just use it, forge the signature, and get away with it?
most of Europe have the same standards and systems, I've lived in quite a different places and never come across any country that don't use pin in EU.
It has been here for a while now - like all of 2016 atleast. The catch is, that if you buy more than a few hundred DKK you'll be asked for your pin number anyway.
Yeah, I was pretty shocked about that as well. ;)
I'm from a town in England and used to be in the local youth theatre which went on an exchange trip to Denmark. We went to Svendborg to live with the members of their local drama group. We got to live 'danishly' for 10 days.
I cannot begin to tell you how amazing, wonderful and life changing it was. The contrast between how they live their lives and how we do, is so different! It's as though we had gone to a different planet.
I don't notice the atmosphere that surrounds us in England, but in Denmark, you could cut the feeling of love, happiness and contentment with a knife. I can safely say I experienced a bit of heaven on earth.
Denmark Jeg elsker dig!
You were with hospitable people. That makes a difference everywhere!
Elsker også dig, og tak for at du besøgte danmark🇩🇰🇩🇰😂
the "rudeness", "impoliteness" and bikes is Copenhagen. If you go basicly anywhere else than Copenhagen will it be diffrent. I have been in Copenhagen and I notice the same things as you, but almost anywhere else, are their not at all as many bikes and a lot more kindness. Dont call a hole country impolite for how they are in one city. I live on the other site of Denmark and it is totaly diffrent here👍
yeah it's a lot different in Copenhagen than the rest of Denmark...
it's pretty much the same thing here in Philadelphia we known for being hated and unfriendly thats not true we are passionate
"Don't call a hole in the country impolite" - Incredible how you managed to both bash the impolite people, and behave very impolitely in the same sentence :P
+Jan Frederiksen Sorry, maybe I am wrong there cause I am Danish (funnely enough😂), but I see many amrican/english speaking people write like that. I guess I should have Said "please dont Call a whole country impolite"?✌🏼
copenhagen is sorta the "new york" of Denmark though that much is true
My grandmother came from Denmark, she died last year when I was away in the military. I would really like to visit Denmark some day.
Winter xx do it its really good out here and fun just do it when its summer
Most Danes are not rude, and if I'm walking past a person, I will smile at them. Yet some of the Danes might not do this, as we're all pretty awkward😂
jeg har lagt meget mærke til at de, i de små byer, om det er i sønderjylland eller på sjælland, er vildt morgenvenlige og hvis man låser øjne vil de 99/100 hilse
Det er så rigtigt😭
It's so fucking awkward when people don't smile back xD (også dansker)
jeg er også dansk og der er næsten ik noget af det han siger der passer ps man smiler da til søde piger de smiler altid tilbage til mig ivertfald😂
Jeg ved ikke... Når jeg går forbi nogen her på min gade smiler jeg og folk smiler tilbage! Det føles godt :D
I would say that we are really really REALLY polite! We do say: "please" etc.
We have good service in the restaurant, maybe you went to the wrong ones? And we do talk on the streets with our friends, just not with strangers.
Fine Aagaard Zethsen På en måde tror jeg at vi er vant til den, lettere, dårlige service ;)
Fine Aagaard Zethsen
Generelt er den service, man får i Danmark væsentligt lavere end mange andre steder. Jeg tror, det bunder i, at de fleste får fuld løn for at betjene folk, modsat USA, hvor meget af deres løn består af drikkepenge. Sekundært tror jeg, at vi i Danmark ikke har den store tradition for service(folk går ikke så meget op i det), og folk ligesom er blevet vant til det.
Til gengæld er jeg enig med dig i, at vi som udgangspunkt er flinke. Jeg vil dog sige, at der er findes folk, som også er ligeså direkte, som han nævner i det i filmen oven for. :)
Lucas Elkjær Ja selvfølgelig er der nogen, der ikke er så flinke, men generelt er vi.
Selvfølgelig har tjenerne nogle dårlige dage eller noget andet, der gør, at de ikke lige har den store lyst til at være på og friske. Hvis jeg får dårlig service, så siger jeg det, selvfølgelig på en pæn måde, og mere indirekte. :-) Men alt i alt synes jeg, at servicen er god (y)
Fine Aagaard Zethsen Nok det han kommer ind på med at vi er mere direkte. For at være helt ærlig vil jeg hellere have en tjener der kommer direkte til sagen end en der begynder og spørge ind til alt muligt.
***** We are actually very independently and creatively thinking people, we just follow the law because we are respectful and don't want anarchy - things would go mad in our society if everyone just started doing whatever they wanted without thinking about anyone else because they don't like some of the rules...
11th shocking thing: they don't use umbrellas when it rains.
so rfhitdhbxdiw
Tine Marie Nørgaard
well, here is very windy too when it rains. Are you Danish?
Tine Marie Nørgaard Jeg er glad for at møde dig her. Jeg boede i København en ganske lang tid siden, og jeg har stadig venner der. Jeg elsker dit land! Knus og kram, kaere Tine Marie!
+Tine Marie Nørgaard Same in Wales and on the west side of England. You wear waterproofs instead or buy a very strong umbrella.
Tine Marie Nørgaard
Unless it rains gently or without wind as well.
I have been living in Denmark over half of my life and I love it. For me, Denmark is the paradise god has promised in the holy books.
Thank you for the kind words. We don't consider it that big a deal really. But then again. We aren't religious here so. But yes. Which is why we wish for Americans to enjoy the same benefits we have
@@kriss3d there are many Americans who are absolutely convinced that you are a socialist country. Also, even though Denmark is not a religious country, are there churches? Are there church-goers? Is there religious freedom?
@@ElizaDolittle Yes we have churches ( over 2000 ), some was made in the 1100's and some are very new. Mostly old people are church-goers. It's a free country, so you can pick any religion you like, or you can pick non of them.
Ehm. The Protestant Church is officially even the State Religion of Denmark.
@@p.nguyen8136 The Evangelical-Lutheran Church. The only people who are mandatory members are the Royal family.
Damn people are so butt hurt in this comment section. The guy wasn't trying to be rude. He was simply describing his stay and what he noticed here.
Get your panties out your butt!
I guess it's because it's a shame that he makes it sound like this is a definite presentation of the country as opposed to his own experience. I am absolutely willing to believe that he might have experienced the things he is mentioning, but it's saddening to have negative representation that is not accurate. :)
xSayaPinkyx which of the things are so negative?
He's not trying to tell people what he's noticed. In some videos he's telling you what you will like and dislike. He's telling you what will shock you. These are the worst kind of video you should watch before visiting another country. I have travelled to over 100 countries as well as 42 US States. I couldn't t even find many similarities between LA and San Francisco, except they are in the same state. Go 50km outside London and its totally different. Tallinn is totally different to tarts, only similarity is they are both in Estonia. I could go on and on. Wolter has no clue.
+Darth Atheist plus, you can't have a title that says DENMARK when it is only copenhagen.
Marius Skjold Knudsen sandt sandt...
As a danish person it shocks me that you dosn't have a pin for your credit/debit cards xD
BjarkeKT stop cringe
BjarkeKT i am form danmark
That's only Americans, they are so behind, they still leave a signature in some places. So 1980s.
@@neilbarnett3046 Signatures are nice what's your problem...
It shocks me too and im italian, i mean a thief could buy everything with your card lol
I envy Denmark's introverted nature... Here in the U.S people will talk to you for any reason at all and I am not a fan! Went to Finland and I loved it there and I hope to live in Denmark one day.
We will welcome you with open arms🙆😊
We welcome you to ride our public transportation! Just shut up alright?
Sarah Hansen - Not really. Today everyone hates "outsiders" in Denmark LOL *Host* Dansk Folkeparti
It's great if you're kinda introverted, but sometimes it can just reinforce it and you might get a little lonely:/
- in a very quiet, introvert way, of course... Actually we'll walk by you, MAYBE size you up very quickly, but walk by you. That's us. *lol
Me and my fiancé are going to move and live in Denmark. Oh how I love that country. It’s great feeling to be Nordic. Love you Danish people
Its not that we danes are rude or ambivalent, its just that everywhere else people are way too nice, and overly polite ;)
#6 "how much they love being outside"
i say "ha!" and grab my blanket and kartoffelchips and go hygge inside. :D
(still true doe, just not for me:D )
btw im dane
Det er jeg også
I love the "kartoffelchips and go hygge inside"
LOL kartoffelchips and hygge😂😂😂😂
Hygge xD
You are so wrong about some of these facts. People in Denmark are very polite and we DO make eye contact on the street.
I hate being outdoors and so does a lot of my friends.
A thing you are right about is the safety. But seriously, the Danes who leave their children outside are crazy.
+Julia Malling Maybe he just scares people!
+Julia Malling That was absolutely my experience, re: the people making eye contact and being polite. And the talking? I think he must have avoided the bars/pubs. Or maybe learning a little Danish goes a long way, but I never wanted for much in my visits, and company and courtesy least of all!
+Julia Malling thanks for right infomation :)
+Julia Malling Obviously we're still 5.6 million people, so these facts don't cover all of us. But i do think that we enjoy the outdoors a lot compared to many other countries in similar climates, like the UK.
Thanks +Julia cause I am danish to and we are very polite and in the trains do we actually talk to each other sometimes. and if you get schussed in the train it's because that there's parts of the train where you can chose t sit and so there is somewhere in the train where you are not allowed to talk
I burst out laughing when he said 10 lines of remulade at 6:57
6:50
I live in Sweden, you're so right on your "shocks" about Danmark. 😁
The rudeness isnt relevant for all of us, especially once you get out of the big cities.
Much of tuem are not shocking. Mostly true and great! Im a danish myself, it recommended to not visit copenhagen. Try visit *jylland* its great!
Tommy Jensen or atleast also visiting Jutland.
Jylland. Many farms. As must as i know
Tommy Jensen Many farms on Sjælland as well.
Tommy Jensen Jylland is a great place, spiecally up north i would say so
I live in region north jylland, was before named nord-vest (danish) but it changed.
Denmark is beautiful, it looks so pretty!!
Love from Britain!
So how is Britain, I'm from Britain too ;-)
Well surely you must know if you're British too :p but from my end it's quite boring, not nice ;(
I am in love with Danmark and I went last summer. When I saw the little mermaid I was not dissapointed. I've seen people be dissapointed. It was perfect in my eyes. Take me back.
Edit, 4 years later, October 2020: Nobody is reading this but I came here to say that in just over a year, I will be moving to Denmark. This country has been my childhood obsession for many years, even before i posted this comment in 2016. Jeg er ikke god til dansk, men, prøver jeg hver dag. Hvor længe har jeg læst dansk? i seks år, tænker jeg.
Denmark can be a great place but when you have lived there in 11 years it's dødssygt
Im danish
and I finally found someone who likes denmark!
There are still a few of us reading :) Did you manage to go through with moving here? If yes, how's it been so far?
@@Real_MisterSir haha well when I said “just over a year” I really meant 2 years. My plan was to attend university there.
However, over the course of time, plans started to change. It turned into moving there in 2023 for university and now it has turned into moving there in... 2027 at the earliest, as I have decided to study a different course in a university in my home country.
Kinda sucks. I was over in Copenhagen back in November and wahhh the place is just as beautiful as it always was. While over there, I bought myself a book in Danish, as well as a Danish dictionary, so I’ll be able to improve my Danish.
Now, I’m studying for my very important exams to get into university. I’ll be taking a gap year then, so I’ll have a free year to just study Danish and do whatever. Then, throughout my time at university, I will study Danish at home and gradually improve. I do also want to learn other languages during that time though.
It’s strange how plans change over time. Even if I don’t end up living in Danmark, I will always have a love for the place, and I will always be travelling there.
Thank you for bringing me back to this comment. It’s interesting to see how my plans have evolved over time. I’ve planned on moving to Copenhagen for university since 2014, and I only decided a few months ago that this was no longer my plan. In the end, I think it would be better to arrive in Danmark with a university degree, and the ability to enter into a better paying job, that requires a certain skill level, instead of having to deal with the pressure of university, the pressure of studying the language, and the pressure of being in a new country, all at once.
I don’t deserve to be in Danmark yet. I need to study harder and work harder and earn my place there. And I’m ok with that. I’m ok with having to work for a few more years before I can move there.
So, I will study hard for my exams, I’ll get a place in university at home, spend a gap year studying Danish and other stuff, go to university for 4 years, and maybe in 2027 arrive in Danmark? Wow that’s a long time away.
I know Denmark is a small country. But please don't make it sound as if Copenhagen is the entirety of Denmark. I don't live there myself, but I know, since I grew up here, that most of us in the northern regions certainly do smile, strike conversation on the street and apologize, should we have caused an inconvenience.
københavn er den værste del af danmark haha
+gempanoob Så rigtig, det er ikke rigtige mennesker der bor i København
Yes there Is Jylland and fyn
You really did make some of the best points about Danish culture in this video.
I completely agree with your take on Danish Pastry. It's the best. Germany has something equally great, but the two countries have somewhat different national pastry specialties, so the Danish pastry is unique and there's only one place you'll find something almost equally danish in the US: A small town in California famous for this very reason, I forgot the name just now (it's some Danish sounding name if I remember correctly), but it should be easy to look it up.
Also about Danish food: You forgot their pork liver paste (in Danish it's called 'leverpostej'). There's also the pork meatballs called 'frikadeller'... Don't ask me what that word means, I have no idea. :)
I also agree about the eeriness about the Danish silence. Silence permeates Danish culture in more ways than any non-Dane can imagine, and though I've lived here for most of my life I've never gotten used to it. Most Danes themselves don't notice it because they've grown up with it, it's part of their native character, if you will, and I probably only do notice it because I've been an outsider in this country all of my life, since the day I was born, in fact (but that's a different story).
You're right about the public transportation system, they will leave on time, sometimes right under your nose, even if you've been running to catch the bus at the last second some buss drivers will leave anyway and be smug about it on top (but they're the very bad examples). On the other hand you're wrong about the public transport being on time if you're talking about the bus system. Trains are mainly on time, but buses most certainly are not. I have on more than one occasion waited almost two hours past schedule, and waiting between 5 to 20 m in past schedule is not uncommon at all.
Thanks for making and sharing this video, I think it was a very nice treat. :)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Allow me to share something that most people and even the Danes themselves don't know about Denmark:
Denmark is not the happiest country int he world!
Why not?.. Because of either one or both of the following:
1. - Danes do not believe in the existence or possibility of happiness.
2. - Danes do not understand the concept of happiness, they don't know what it means.
These are not my claims, they are what Danes have told me again and again for as long back as I can remember (sometime during my teens when I first began asking people if they are happy, what they think about happiness, what happiness means or what it is to them personally, and if they considered happiness to be an important element/part of life).
I have lived in Denmark through most of my life and I am very sure about my claims regarding Danes and Happiness because I have conducted an ongoing study about this very subject consisting mainly of questions and answers (listed in parenthesis in the passage above) taking place between myself and more or less every individual Dane I get to talk to, and my research has been running over a span of almost three decades. Granted, my study has been done on a purely personal basis without any support or funding (I'd never have been given funds to make a real empirical study due to various factors, one being the fact that I have no official degree in anything), but I can assure you that my findings are nevertheless _very_ consistent.
I realize it's a huge culture shock for Americans but it's called minding your own business.
As an American “minding your own business” is unheard of
I wish it were more like that here
People think you’re upset if you’re not smiling
It’s very annoying
As an American introvert, I’d wish more Americans would mind their own damn business. Sometimes I just want to be left alone.
@@DirectorWestfield That's actually a great way to put it. Denmark is basically a country of introverts, and we therefore respect each others privacy.
@@Nistol11 Seems like there needs to be a middle ground....which is england :p
@@josepartida1711 really? Id love to visit usa but I couldn't live where yiu can't shop in peace.
I can take a walk through the most busy part of the entire Denmark. The long pedestrian street. And get bothered by nobody.
Tourists are very welcome to talk to us or ask for directions or advise and such. We gladly help. But in stores and such, none of the clerks will address you unless you ask them for something. Generally people are assumed to not ranting to be bothered.
WHAT? Do Americans not remember their own pin? What the hell?
A lot of Americans don't even have a pin number. You don't use your pin number when you pay in the US, often you just write your signature, but sometimes you have to enter your zip code.
I'm from Denmark, I was In US for 5 month I only used my pin number then I was in Walmart or Giant Eagle ;)
To be honest, I don't remember the PIN for my Master Card either (tho' there is one), only for my DAN-card.
I am as shoked as you +Turd Of Time
Well, in København its loud and noisy, and people tend to be more direct (rude), visit the contryside, there you will find quiet and peace, and more polite people ;)
It's so fun to hear this when you're Danish 😂 A lot of these things are just like... "Well yeah of course???" 😂 But great video and glad you liked Denmark ❤️
Just found out I’m half Danish, fascinated by the country and want to get there one day. It looks beautiful
I'm half Danish and half Italian and I go to Denmark every year because my father lives there but like...Italy is a fucking mess and every time I get to Denmark my soul gets purified lmao
ya
Helene- Italy is a wonderful mess- two different cultures to be sure; like night and day ! I prefer Italians myself as I like being friendly and open with people ! Danes can be spooky !
I think you feel like People dont smile and so on, on the streets because you where in copenhagen. try Odense or Århus or Aalborg :) specialy Odense ;)
+Mei Mio good guess
True. I'm not from Odense, but people look at me like I'm a maniac because I smile, say hi and even bow at people at times.
yes come to odense when the building is over
+vicki rasmussen yes
And when you're done cleansing Vollsmose.
wow the similarities between Copenhagen and Japan are astounding
Not jaywalking is difficult, haha, as I lived in NYC for years. I kept forgetting and getting disapproving stares, heehee.
*****in denmark if you jaywalk and there is a cop that got a bad day he can give you a ticket of 150 - 200$ for doing so
***** Oh, wow, that's a lot. I do love that sense of order in many of the northern European countries though.
***** it almost not but trust me it do happen..
did get one a years back -.- that was the pizza that did cost me the most to get
***** Haha, that's how it goes. I will be your witness to that because I am one of the Danes giving angry looks at people when I see them jaywalking xD
+oggo loggo That's actually not true. Cops in Denmark (I'm not aware about other places in the world) actually have a quota to fulfill, so at the end of the year cops pay special attention to it because it makes it very easy to get past the yearly quota. You'd probably have to know a cop to know this, but it's actually not that uncommon as one might think.
I would say Danes are very friendly, especially in the service industry. Sure, they are kind of relaxed and get orders wrong in restaurants (seems to happen to me quite often), but still the waiters are super friendly as a rule. Especially compared to London or Paris.
"Danish ambivalence." Don't you mean "indifference?"
i live in Denmark and the most of the things you sayid was right. there is a lot of theifs in copenhagen and some gangs.
jonas olsen thanks for the heads up
jonas olsen That's not true, the theft rate in copenhagen is really low, and most is "asking for it" (Having your back open etc)
And gangs are very small and mostly keep to themselves *Out of all the gang shootings through the years only 2 innocents have been hit
woltersworld Not really a lot though. Just that in the major cities, pickpocketing and bike theft is a thing.
Im spanish and I have visited Denmark this winter.
Its so beatifull, the restaurant have a good service compared to Spain, well, compared to Spain, Denmark is THE paradise, except for the cold. Omg I miss ginger beer :D
Its not the cashier that wont accept your card, but the machine.
Atleast here in the west. If the machine doesnt work.. well the cashiers cant do magic.
My nephew's wife is from Denmark, and this video explains a lot.
I'm a Dane, living in Denmark, 25 km north of Copenhagen. Side note, I spent 16 years in Vancouver, CA. 3) Babies left outside... my mom did this with me 35 years ago, but because of migration, etc... the Danes don't do this as much anymore. The same thing with dogs, there's an "epidemic" with stealing dogs leashed outside the grocery stores 4) lock your bike! People, especially drunk people going home at night "borrow" bikes without bringing them back. I "left" my wallet on a bench in Elsinore. When I realised this 35 minutes after leaving the bench, I went back, and it was still there, incl. content. I was amazed. 7) Happiest country in the world, yet 1 in 6 are on anti-depressants :(. I'm constantly annoyed at the ambivalence (and rudeness). 8) It's all about the BUTTER! Remoulade is mayo, onion, pickles and mustard, etc. 10) The National Bank wants to be the first cashless society in the World... this pretty much solidifies your statement about cash. Gov. just changed the law regarding cash after 10 pm. Stores no longer need to accept cash after this time. You've been warned ;).
You are absolutely so right in this movie. (Y) Though a few minor details is a bit off, like yes the waiters in Denmark do try to give good service, but as we usually do not give any tips in Denmark because of high salaries (and high taxes), the waiters are more focused on serving as many as possible (again like with the directness and fast forward work "policy") instead of giving extra great service for a few for the extra tips. And there are other minor things a bit off like with hot dogs, where we use yes remoulade but also mustard and tomato ketchup and so on.
But all in all a great and very precise description of my country Denmark, and though I do not currently live in Copenhagen myself, I have both family and have also previously lived there and a lot of other places here in Denmark - and now currently live Aalborg.
So thank you very much for your absolutely great video about Denmark and Copenhagen.
Best Regards
Claus Hjortholm Eberhard
Im from Denmark. Where I live there is party almost everyday. I live in "Hellerup (Denmark's richest place). I bike everyday and I am outside right now. I see a lot of Danes that are having eye contact with me and laugh and smile to me when I walk by!
Been to Copenhagen a lot of times and you nailed it. To my own bias i have only lived in Jutland and it is worlds apart from CPH. However if you have a dog and go for a walk you are in for a treat. People a very friendly and a walk usually takes 1-2 hours because you stop and chat with every dog owner and they have these fenced off areas in the fields and woods in and around the cities where the dogs can play and enjoy themselves on their own, while the owners sit on a bench talking with a mug of coffee:)
denmark for the win
Er du også fra Danmark??
ja
Jaaaaaa! :)))))))))))
As I expected when I saw the title of this video.
Tons of generalizations...
You seem like a nice guy, but the generalizations are overwhelming.
+cryz8210 just my experiences in Denmark. I do these for a number of cities and countries including my own. Still we had a fun time in Denmark. Can't wait to go back.
Wolters World
And we'll welcome you, I'm sure.
Try to go to Århus, though. as far as I'm concerned, most danes agree that Copenhageners are kinda dicks.
+Wolters World As a Dane, I think you are very accurate in your description of us, I have to say. When I visited USA and entered a store, and the shopassistent said "Hey, how are you today?", I had to check if there were someone behind me in the store, because I didn't think she was talking to me, but perhaps to a friend behind me (yeah, she WAS in fact talking to me). We are not used to that kind of openness. We are open people, if you drink beers with us though :) But we don't give a lot of ourselves to strangers, but are kind if you ask for directions. And you are seen kind of as a loon, if you start talking to strangers on the bus or train, unless both parties are drunk and in a good mood.
I know that a lot of the Danes who have commented is misinterpreting the video. You don't mean that we are rude, but that we at first can seem a little rude - there's a clear difference for me :) Keep up the great videos!
+MikieMK Hey. where do you live? i live by the Limfjord and lots of people greets and thanks eachother.
+Marius Skjold Knudsen Copenhagen now. It's a big city thing, I know, I have lived in a village near Roskilde for most of my life. There people greet each other, even when you don't know each other. In Copenhagen, people normally only greet friends and close ones, that they meet up with.
Pretty much spot on, I'm Danish.
Always fun/interesting to see how others sees us.
atm I have a great correspondence with an American lady,
where we exchange views on how Europeans sees Americans and
the other way around.
It's not only Italy that closes stores,bamks,restoramts for a couple of hours im the afternoon.Other countries in Europe do too.
Everything he's saying is correct when it comes to Copenhagen. I'm from Aarhus. In Jylland you will be met in a different way, people make eye contact and are overall nice to foreigners and to each other. Many of his other points in my opinion counts as true facts throughout the country. Great video!
Subscribed =)
None of this chocked me... Cause im danish!😂
Cimorelli is the best He misspelled it, jeez. Relax. He was supposed to write it as "shocked"
+Sam Swiftie isn't it because they pronounce ch as sh?
JoshDaJewishKid Yes
+Magnus Aagaard haha
+Cimorelli is the best I bet you can't speak his language, so?
Why should I go to a stranger and talk with him?
Malthe Korsgaard I agree
Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them
Malthe Korsgaard i see you everywhere lol
Err.. because it's a nice thing to do and make you and other people feel better? No ok, maybe I think your question is weird because I'm Italian... But really, talking to a strangers will get you richer, connecting with people may change your life for the better. Being always by yourself doesn't make you grow that much, and I 'm saying it even though I'm an introvert 😁
well why not?
Thanks, very informative, very helpful, i wish you 🍀
I'm from Denmark Copenhagen and most of the things that you're telling about Denmark is not true.. About the rudeness it's about how you're brought up. Example.. My parents brought me up to be polite and nice but my cousin isn't brought up that way. Also people do talk to each other when they walk around in Copenhagen. Also smørrebrød is not white bread but wholemeal bread and the place you have gotten yours is obviously bad. Also a fact that you probably didn't know but you can go to the Danish hospitals for free. You don't have to have an insurance.
Just wanted to let you know because to me you're giving a really bad rewiew about Denmark and I don't like the people see this and think that Denmark is a very bad place just because the things that you have told them that I'm not so true.
*Rye bread (aka rugbrød) ;D
Sorry, but I live in Denmark. We talk a lot with others when we go out. I'm getting new friends almost everytime I'm going out. We always talk to strangers and having a great time. I live in Copenhagen.
Are from Denmark and even hearing these makes me feel weird lol, don't live in CPH but in Jylland (Jutland) and here we more talk to each other while going around but true we are very quiet to that point. Never knew it's uncommon to have like a road for bikes so they aren't on the same as the cars which can cause accidents, in big towns don't walk on them else you'll indeed get hit for sure while over here where I live there's a bike road but no road to walkers so we just use the bike road but walk on the side where they come at us so we can hear music or stuff and not get hit behind. Ah yes, remoulade is a good thing like mustard got down a grade for remoulade xD again never thought that was weird. Indeed our bakeries are good and we have lot's of em so nothing beats stuff from there, now that I think of it all we are kinda direct but if someone holds the door for me I say thanks or I bump into someone I say sorry so I guess people are just used to being nice to each other even without getting a thank you back. Bonus fact: with the Danish accent your English can sound if you maybe got too many drinks (I cringed each time I talked but thank god I have changed it now) so politicians sounds horrible and some barely use it so when they do it's like a potato in their mouth lol but then again we have a lot of old people as politicians. Feel free to ask me anything about Denmark how they are or so!
Regarding the cross walk; You might actually get a fine if you cross when there's a red light (thats NOT the case in e.g. Sweden, where I'm from). The same thing concerns bicycles. Even if there is no car near, if there's a red light, it means you cannot walk/drive. It was quite shocking, even for me as a swede, the first time I saw that; someone that got a ticket because they rode their bicycle against a red light!
Similar to Germans , especially with the no excuse me part !!
:)
Card vs. Cash thing is true but Copenhagen is one of few places in Europe and the US (other than Target) where I have experienced stores not accepting VISA or Master cards issued in another country - even if the country is two miles away! You either have the local Dancard or you take your business elsewhere. Also, you pay for parking everywhere but the meters have been replaced with an app, which you cannot download if you do not have access to the Danish app store, which of course you don't have if you don't have a Danish credit card. The same goes for postage stamps, which are hard to come by since they have been replaced by a code that you buy through an app that you cannot download unless you are Danish.
Regarding us being the happiest country in the world, I think it's more of a cultural pressure thing. We're almost afraid of saying we're unhappy. If you make a survey asking whether people feel content and happy, we'd generally be more inclined to saying yes than no, regardless of the truth. We've basically learned that if you aren't happy, you're a buzzkill, and that idea probably affects our decision making process subconsciously when asked in a survey whether we're happy. Or something like that. We're also one of the countries that use the most anti-depressants; I wouldn't be surprised if in reality, we're one of the least happy european countries, although I wouldn't bet on it.
The elleventh thing that'll shock you about Denmark: Nearly all of us speak fluent english. No need to learn danish!
Ever since I've heard that "happiness science" is based on self reporting happiness levels ONLY, I've wondered if the results can be traced to cultural norms such as the one of which you speak. On the other hand, does saying that you're happy have a meaningful effect on one's sense of joy?
Spot on Bro.
Welcome to Denmark.
Look out for crazy bike-riders! :-D
I want to live in denmark. love from England
Well you are going to find we are very different than what you know.
I always thought the Danes and the English were very similar.
Darnell Brookes
There can be quit a big difference, it depend on who you compare to but there is quit a difference even though there is some simelarities.
IloveLuhan
Right you are we are more private to stranger. That is some of the things that differ. Something we share is some of our words and history.
I know many chastise danish people for it, but it is just your culture :) yes and Danish speak English very well. We have different languages here in Britain, there is Welsh and Cornish, both parts of England but speak a different language :)
Aquavite is originally a norwegian thing.
The Danish, Swedish etc is made with grain, while the norwegian original is made with potato.
The color comes from the Sherry-barrels they're matured in, and the recepies are strict. Served in room temperature.
The blanc(white) ones are a different story all together, as they have a much shorter maturing period in steel barrels.
Here it's more freedom to flavor adding, they go really well with seafood-based dishes, and should be served chilled.
Not to say the grain ones isn't good, but I mean...facts...
Bitters are what you want in Denmark, oh and of course 'Gløgg' (gluewhine) from the oldest waterhole in the country: 'Wiids Vinstue' (Just go there. Now.)
I miss you, Denmark! 🇩🇰
Big love from Norway 🇳🇴
See you soon.. 🤘
Im danish myself, and this is my appenion about denmark and danes: We do talk a lot to other people. He went to copenhagen (on danish: København), which is, with 1295686 dwellers is for me who lives in a big village (frederikshavn, 23501 dwellers) unbelivable. i went to copenhagen once, and it was very very frustrating and big, and had a constant noice of cars and motorcycles. for every 5 cars, 3 of them were taxies. i my village, you are lucky if you see 3 at a day! so if you travels to For an example, hjørring, vejle, aalborg, or bornholm, you will get a much better look of how denmark is, though, if you wanna learn abut denmark, bornholm is a lot different, as they are half swedish. we are almost always outside, though a normal temperature in the middle of spring is 12 degrees celsius and same in middle of fall. we really like hot dogs, and smørrebrød, which i thoud was mind blowing, when he kind of said they did'nt have in america. normally, smørrebrød is 3/2 or 1/2 part of all food at a day. i hope you learned something of this, (which i dont think you did) and most important: that is not how denmark is! you shouldent believe him, though what he said about the rules, bikes, the safe, outdoor life, hot dogs remoulade and smørrebrød and credit cards is right. The thing about babies is 50% right. it does happen, that someone let the babies outside, but we dont call child protection stuff. I did'nt even know it existed!
Btw in Denmark, we're out mutch because we think that the weather is good, as Long as its not raining.
REMOULADE FOR THE WIN
this video is so wrong......
det her er så forkert
This makes me just want to migrate here more and more, actually get to see the Country my family is from.
When you say “credit card is king”, it’s actually not true. DEBIT card is king! Many stores and restaurants can’t accept credit cards, but some do, like the groceries store “Føtex”, but DEBIT card really is king here!
LEGO is Danish omg
EVERYONES KNOW THAT!
Not every body, 90 %of All us citizens have never luft their state, and Think ikea is a country, USA are generaly a geografikaly low educatet country, a b country if You lige, when it Comes to education and equality.
If You should rate countrys/ regions in a/b/C the it would be.
A Scandinavian countrys
Russia, north Korea, south Korea, mid Europe (England, France, spain, italy, Portugal, Belgien, germany) and so,.
B. USA, Canada Australia, south america, New Zealand, Singapore. North african countrys, south africa,.
C. The rest.
it's fun to watch this when your danish
Is NOT! True that there are so silence
one year later...
Hey its only in copenhagen peopel are rude in jylland evry boby is sweet and kind (im a dane)
True about the quiet of Copenhagen! That's why I loved it. The bikes are much worse in Rotterdam!
The only reason Denmark is "safe" is because we don't have the same gun rights
niklas raabjerg true
yeah, actually
niklas raabjerg lol hej Niklas
Jonatan Ahle Petersen Lol hej
Not quite, you have a good way of living perhaps.
To leave a child outside of a restaurant is not ok or normal in Denmark!!! You should have called the cops!
Yes it is lmao
+Ravn Rike and woops we get a fanatic blaming everything on immigrants! If you could drag your head out of your ass an look at some statistics, you'll find that the majority of child abuse are caused by the natives. Be it in Norway, or in denmark.
Ikr. I was thinking the same when he was talking about that.
Its a very vague statement, leaving a child outside a café or resturant if you sit nearby the door and have the baby in a rather close and not a long distance then YES it is normal, leaving it unattended or out of view is NOT normal !
Having visited Danmark it is my opinion that the Danes communicate telepathically! Yes it is quiet, even walking around Kobenhaven at nite, it is so quiet! As to the bicyclists of Kobenhaven, they are insane, rude and perhaps suicidal! Another good vid , Wolter!
The more I hear the more I seem to love Denmark. Perhaps the most civilized nation on Earth.
Bikes in Denmark is crazy, not in the small citys, bit Copenhagen is just crazy :-D
Mark I absolutely love watching your videos. They are extremely helpful. Keep up the great work man!!! Best wishes to you and Jocelyn and the kids for 2017!
Well, your videos are always interesting and useful. I really like the way to describe things mate.
Cheers
All places of business (shops, restaurants etc.) are obliged to accept cash and to give you change and it's no excuse that they haven't got the required change, nor can they insist on you paying with a card (but if you choose to pay with a card you must have a pincode).The only exception I can think of is when you buy a ticket on a public bus, here they usually have a sign stating that the driver is not obliged to give change to an amount exeeding the nearest 100 DKK. This is done in an attempt to ensure the drivers safety. That said, it is true that a lot of danes use their cards a lot when paying, and that most places of business often prefer electronic payment.
This might be an old video, but in case you see this comment I just want to tell you that your research on the country is quite off. To be honest, yes the first impression is like it is but we care more about eating healthy than using our "yellow sauce" which is definitely an overstatement. We don't use a lot of remoulade and smørrebrød are expensive as hell so that's only for celebrations. But yes, sadly we do love our hot dogs. I don't eat as I've chosen to care for myself and not eat unhealthy foods but in general, there is SOO much that you're missing out on, for example if you have the chance to go, visit Christiania, which is kind of a special place. There is just a certain vibe there. Great video but some of the information was a bit overstated.
0:30 Japan is like that. Also, the Doors mentioned how quiet it was wen they played Denmark
Scandinavia is safe because of the people helping each other. If you come here and do crime anyone see it can interact. And we care for each other. Feel safe ☺
Danish people are lovely, but Copenhagen is one of the few cities that makes London look cheap. Having said that its great to visit in the winter . Just be prepared , because it gets properly cold.
I agree with you on most of those things you mentioned but like a few others have mentioned, Copenhagen is completely different to the rest of Denmark.
I've lived in Denmark for 11 years or so and it really depends where you are when it comes to kindness / rudeness.
I recently moved to a small village on Jylland and I can't go out for a run without someone saying Hello when passing me by, either walking, running or on a bike.
By the way, the "Remoulade" is a MUST for eating French Fries.
On another note, feel free to come visit the Faroe Islands sometime in the near future. It's where I'm from and I'll be moving back there soon. So if you're even there then feel free to hit me up and I could show you around :)
Cheers!
I loved your video. :D So funny. ;) Not an accurate picture of Denmark, But only being in Copenhagen for a bit how could it be. Still a great video though I laughed a lot. Mostly cause most of the things you are talking about I have experienced completely differently. :D
its funny how you call it danish pastry when we call it viennabread! we imported a lot of swiss people back in the days! they somehow all became bakers and invented vienna bread!
we actually talk but it might not be in Copenhagen but in small towns u can hear people talk alot! and when you´re in the grocery store u talk with the cashier (: and sometimes they say exuse me and those things. (:
The so-called bad service really is a matter of perspective. As you said yourself, we enjoy our privacy and as a consequence thereof we don't appreciate some invasive waiter trying to earn his/her tip during a romantic, cozy, serious etc. dinner - it's how we prefer it and by that metric it is excellent service, again by local standards.
Also, we gladly pay up for what might seem costly dinners because it includes the tip (/decent wage) - from my perspective, dealing with the tip in the end ultimately ruins the service however good it was prior. But it's your culture and I deal with it - especially as your culture is what I came to experience as a tourist.
Don't get me wrong, I haven't taken offense of any sorts. It's just not the first time I hear foreigners talk about it and I don't get why you'd expect us to enjoy our dinners differently from how we like living our lives? I think it makes perfect sense.
I feel that if you spent more time in Denmark, Copenhagen or otherwise, you would find Danes to be very social, polite and down right happy people. I know well from many visits, and my family that lives there. My father is a Dane, and he is a great man. Every time we have visited Denmark it feels safe and exciting. The people are welcoming, do a little research on behaviors of our country and you might have a better experience. Unlike America, bikes are a valid form of transportation and are respected.
so on point! And i am Danish myself!
Can someone remind me of the phrase that is used in Denmark? It means "Be more realistic and you'll live a happier life" kind of thing.
My cousin is a Dane- man, you nailed it. Thanks .
im Danish and when i got to berlin it shocked me how trafic there was
and was so warm there in a ....Danish opnion
you are almost right about everything but i can hear that you've only been in copenhagen not all danes i like that the people from copenhagen is alot different from example jylland....☺
sorry for my bad english
have a nice day from the dane.....☺
Im from Denmark and what you call the yellow sauce is what we call remulade
Remoulade*
Fantastic info! Thank you :)
The thing about you don't need to lock your bike... That is completely wrong! I live in one of the smallest cities on Fyn, and 3/5 of my bikes have been stolen... Same with my friend.
its so funny to hear you talk Danish :D xD
You won't ALMOST get killed by a bike every day. It's true, we really bike a lot here in Denmark, but we're careful and doesn't want to hurt anyone (most of us)
9.40 i didn't know the cash problem! if you pay with relatively the same amount i dont see the problem.. i can see it if you have to get change though! everyone in denmark knows to withdraw what they need and always pays within a 2 percent margin so most cashbacks arent needed!