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Country Commercial Guides FY 2000: Denmark Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Copenhagen, released July 1999 Note*

IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business Customs: Danish business people are likely to get down to business right away and are generally conservative and efficient in their approach to business meetings. Handshakes are the accepted form of greeting. Danes shake hands both for greetings and good-byes. Unlike in the United States, men do not stand when a woman enters or leaves a room. Some American forms of greeting can be misunderstood. The standard American greeting "How are you?" may, although rarely, be misunderstood. "I'm pleased to meet you" is preferable and conveys a more sincere message. Business gifts are not a normal custom in Denmark. Flowers for the hostess are suitable, if invited to someone's home. Business entertaining is usually done at lunch, and more rarely at dinner in a restaurant. English is widely spoken and understood. Danish businessmen and Government employees will communicate, orally and in writing, in English. Interpreters are seldom required.

Business Appointments: Advance appointments are always required and punctuality is a must; it is considered rude to be late. Danes work shorter hours than Americans. The standard work week is 37 hours. Mandatory vacation is five weeks per year plus local holidays (see below). At least three weeks are taken during summer, one often around Christmas, and one during the winter. School vacation is from about June 20 to about August 8 and generally, business is slow in that period with many executives out and some companies closed. It is not advisable to schedule business meetings or other business activities in Denmark from late June to early August, from December 20 - January 5, or in the week of Easter. Danes treasure their leisure time, most of which is spent with the family. Business persons should not expect to meet with their Danish counterparts after 4.00 p.m. on weekdays. On Fridays, many Danes leave early, generally between 2 - 3 p.m. Do not plan meetings for Saturdays, Sundays, or on national holidays (see below).

Travel Advisory and Visas: The national carrier, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) provides non-stop service from Copenhagen to New York, Chicago, and Seattle. United provides service to Copenhagen in cooperation with Lufthansa and SAS. The major U.S. credit cards are accepted in Denmark and all major U.S. car rental companies have offices at airports and major cities. A number of Danish hotels are affiliated with U.S. hotel management companies. Consequently, a U.S. business visitor may plan his entire trip to Denmark through his local travel agent, including overseas and local transportation and lodging. Citizens from non-EU countries must apply for both residence and work permits before arriving in Denmark, if their stay is expected to last for more than three months, or if they have already been resident in Denmark or one of the other Scandinavian countries for the last nine months. In the United States, applications may be submitted to the Danish embassy, or one of its diplomatic missions in the larger U.S. cities. American business visitors and tourists do not need visas if staying in Denmark for less than three months.

U.S. business travelers are encouraged to obtain a copy of the "Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Guide for Business Representatives" available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402; tel. (202)512-1800; fax (202) 512-2250. Business travelers to Denmark seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Copenhagen officials should contact the Commercial Section in Advance. The Commercial Section can be reached on telephone (011 45) 35553144, #270 or by fax at (011 45) 35420175.

Holidays (2000):
January 1 (New Year's Day)
April 20 (Maundy Thursday)
April 21 (Good Friday)
April 24 (Easter Monday)
May 19 (Prayer Day)
June 1st (Ascension Day)
June 5 (Constitution Day)
June 12 (Whit Monday)
December 24 (Christmas Eve)
December 25 (Christmas Day)
December 26 (Second Christmas Day)
December 31 (New Years Eve).

The American Embassy is closed for business on these and on official U.S. holidays.

Business Infrastructure: Denmark (Greenland and the Faeroe Islands not included) covers an area of 43,000 sq.km of which the Jutland peninsula accounts for 29,776 sq.km. The capital of Copenhagen (1.3 million), which is also the center of government and business, is located on the island of Zealand, close to western Sweden. The country is small and, although the main islands of Zealand and Funen are separated from the Jutland peninsula by water, communications and transport via bridges and tunnels are highly developed. The infrastructure is excellent everywhere. Business visitors may move easily from one part of the country to another by domestic airlines or by modern fast trains. There are 70,000 km of fine roads in Denmark (including 1,000 km of freeway) and a 3,000 km railway network. There are 13 civilian airports of which Copenhagen International Airport (Kastrup) is the largest. It is Scandinavian Airlines System's consolidated hub for U.S.-bound traffic. Copenhagen also has a modern seaport catering to freight vessels as well as to ocean cruise liners. Other major ports are at Esbjerg, Aalborg, Aarhus, and Fredericia. The Port of Copenhagen includes a free port (see above). Telecommunication services are highly developed. Denmark is a central link for satellite communications between the former East Bloc and Western Europe and the United States. Its telephone systems provide first class digital service, and several cellular system providers offer excellent Trans-European and worldwide mobile communications. Very few non-Danes speak Danish so almost all Danish business people speak English as a second language. Many also speak German and French.

Housing: For expatriates working in Denmark, rental of a house or an apartment is the most common arrangement. Housing costs are well above those in major American cities. Denmark has a high standard of living. Public and private health services are generally good. The price level for food and durable consumer goods is considerably higher than that of the United States, and among the highest in Western Europe. Automobiles are more heavily taxed than in other European countries and cost about three times what they would in the United States. Americans will recognize many U.S. food and other consumer item brands in Danish stores.