Andrew Yeung(@andruyeung):Been in Denmark for a week now. Not once has a server/barista has smiled at me. But it doesn’t come across as rude. What I’ve noticed here: people aren’t fake-friendly. Servers don’t pretend they’re thrilled to see you or ask how your day is going. At first it can feel cold. But the longer I’m here, the more I think it’s actually a different definition of politeness. In Denmark, politeness seems to mean respecting your space, not wasting your time, and not imposing yourself on you. There’s a cultural explanation for the service piece: Danish society is extremely egalitarian, so there’s less of a “customer above server” dynamic. Less performative but tbh feels way more genuine.

2026.08.30 11:10

Been in Denmark for a week now. Not once has a server/barista has smiled at me. But it doesn’t come across as rude. What I’ve noticed here: people aren’t fake-friendly. Servers don’t pretend they’re thrilled to see you or ask how your day is going. At first it can feel cold. But the longer I’m here, the more I think it’s actually a different definition of politeness. In Denmark, politeness seems to mean respecting your space, not wasting your time, and not imposing yourself on you. There’s a cultural explanation for the service piece: Danish society is extremely egalitarian, so there’s less of a “customer above server” dynamic. Less performative but tbh feels way more genuine.

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