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SOCIAL LIFE

What you should know about dating in Norway

If you’re new to the dating pool in Norway, we kindly advise ditching expectations of the traditional combo of dinner and a movie.

Published: 8 November 2021 15:48 CET
Updated: 14 November 2021 09:34 CET
Here are some of the social norms of dating in Norway. Pictured is two people on a date.
Here are some of the social norms of dating in Norway. Pictured is two people on a date. Photo by René Ranisch on Unsplash.

The cultural norms of dating in Norway

Sure, Norwegians eat dinner. And they enjoy going to the movies. But somehow, they haven’t made the two activities a typical part of “getting to know someone”. Of course, one might point the blame on the fact that the average cost of a dinner and a movie is too extravagant to blow on with someone you hardly know.

The progression of getting to know a potential partner may feel a little backwards in this country. Or sometimes, put on an eternal pause. A typical first date in Norway will happen over drinks and progress quickly in a physical sense. Casual sex in Norway is a big part of “getting to know someone” in this country. 

By no means is it expected of you. And, of course, you can get to know someone at your own pace. But don’t be surprised if the person you’ve been casually flirting with at the bar tries to jump in a taxi with you back to your place. 

You can leave your heels and freshly shined leather shoes while getting ready for your first date with someone new. In the office, out to a birthday party, or on a date. Norwegians are often very casual in dressing for what some foreigners may view as a formal event. 

So, who pays? This is, of course, situational. But as a rule of thumb, you should expect to pay for your own drinks, dinner, and whatever activity the two of you do together. Your date isn’t being cheap if they don’t offer to pay.

If you find splitting the tab down the middle too stiff and impersonal, it wouldn’t be odd if you offered to get the first round while they got the second. Or if they pay for dinner because you picked up the concert tickets.

Who asks who out? 

Another part of dating in Norway that allows you to throw the outdated rule book out the window is that there is no expectation on who should ask who out. Just like with paying for your own drinks and food, equality is alive and well in Norway.

The most popular apps

Like many other aspects of our lives, social media has carved out a space for itself. This is especially true for the influence it has played on the dating culture in Norway. 

Dating apps such as Tinder, Match, and Happen are popular platforms for meeting potential partners. There is no shame or hush hush tones about online dating in this country. And sharing stories with your friends and close colleagues about the people you have met while swiping through them is a typical conversation to have.

Using these apps in Norway comes with a word of warning. However much you feel you have made a match with someone, don’t get your hopes up until you’ve met them in person. Unfortunately, sudden silence from a potential future date, or “ghosting”, is a standard part of Norwegian dating culture in the digital world. 

Dating apps are popular. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t meet a potential partner while out and about. Don’t expect to get asked out in the grocery store or while in line to get your morning cappuccino. Most Norwegians practised social distancing even before it became mandatory. But if you are out to drink with friends in a bar. Or, in a more lively (booze-filled) event, it is the social norm to approach someone who caught your eye. 

Useful dating vocabulary 

Skal vi ta noen pils? – Should we go out for some beers? 

Møteplass – meeting spot 

Jeg liker deg – I like you 

Flørting – flirting 

Have your say 

It isn’t easy to discuss the dating norms of an entire country. So whether you have found this article to be spot on or want to share how you’ve experienced dating life in Norway, we’d love to hear from you! 

We want to know more about your personal experiences and impressions of dating in Norway. So take a moment to fill out this survey The Local has put together, and we’ll share your thoughts in a future article. We hope to share accurate details and truthful tips to anyone considering dipping their feet into the dating pool in Norway. 

 

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LIVING IN NORWAY

Five places to find a sense of community in Norway 

One of the easiest ways to adjust to life in another country is to feel a sense of belonging, either by feeling part of the wider community or carving out your own path. 

Published: 22 April 2024 16:16 CEST
Five places to find a sense of community in Norway 

While plenty of factors, such as work-life balance, access to nature, and the country’s great potential for child raising, make it attractive, foreigners in Norway find it a difficult place to settle. 

In previous surveys among foreign residents, internationals in Norway have said that the culture and difficulty making friends made Norway a hard place to settle. 

Finding a sense of community and belonging can help people feel settled and at home. 

Even if you need to fit in more places, there will likely be somewhere in Norway where you can embed yourself into a community. 

Start with your neighbourhood or local area  

This may not be possible everywhere, and not everyone is guaranteed a great relationship with their neighbours. 

However, life in the big cities in Norway could be set up for strong micro-communities. This is because many apartment blocks are arranged into housing associations. 

These business-like entities allow the residents to get involved with the running of the community. You could contribute by joining the board, or you may wish to get involved with dugnad (voluntary work) in the spring and autumn. 

There may also be seasonal parties and meetups organised by the neighbours.

READ ALSO: Seven ways you will accidentally annoy your Norwegian neighbours

Volunteering 

Giving back to your local community can definitely make it feel like you are an important building block. 

Norway has around 100,000 volunteer organisations that offer several opportunities to get involved and help others. 

From coaching kids’ sports teams to helping other immigrants integrate, there are hundreds of ways to go about volunteering. 

There are a number of places where you can find some volunteering work, such as Frivillighet Norge, Norges Frivilligsentraler, and Frivillig.no. 

READ ALSO: How can I find volunteer work in Norway?

Sports, old and new 

One of the best ways to feel involved in something is to be part of a team. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get involved with sports in Norway. 

If you live in the big cities, there are plenty of ways to pick up a new sport, keep a lifelong passion going, or pick up the baton after a few years off. 

Oslo, for example, has facilities for sports of all types, from rock climbing to cricket. There are also plenty of chances to get involved in a number of sports just beginning to take off in Norway, such as padel, pickleball, or racketlon. 

There’s much more than just racquet sports too, it’s simply a case of looking for something that suits your fancy. If there is a sport from where you are from that you miss, you likely aren’t the only one, so be sure to check if there is an equivalent close to you. 

Many of these sports will have an associated club, meaning there will be several social opportunities to gather. 

Not all sports require you to be an athlete, either. There are plenty that require a degree of skill, but are also inclusive, such as the game cornhole. 

Hobbies 

It’s not just being part of a sports team that can help you get close to others over a shared interest. 

There are also plenty of opportunities to get to know people and feel a part of something while enjoying your hobbies. If it’s gardening, consider an allotment, cars or bikes, and you could join a motor club. 

If you speak a language other than English, you could consider a language café. From there, you could consider sharing your language with others in a community full of people interested in other languages and cultures. 

Foreign resident groups 

Sometimes, the community you might be missing has more to do with where you have left than it has to do with where you are. 

In that regard, it might be nice to surround yourself with people from a similar part of the world. Thanks to social media, there are groups for pretty much everyone in Norway, as well as groups for new residents or foreign residents, more generally. 

These groups will typically act as support networks where people can ask questions, rant, arrange meetups and generally support one another. 

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