Norwegians

Take your time wandering through the quiet streets of this residential neighbourhood. Notice how Norwegians love to decorate their windows, and how much care they put into their gardens and outdoor spaces. You’ll often come across a neatly tended patch of greenery or a house front overflowing with flowers. While we’re here, let’s take a moment to talk about the Law of Jante, which really captures the Norwegian spirit. This social code, introduced in a fictional novel by Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose, illustrates the strong egalitarian mindset of the Nordic countries. It’s deeply anti-elitist. You don’t put yourself above others, no one is better than anyone else, and pride is a dangerous path. Bergen might be the exception, locals here are proudly convinced they live in the most beautiful city in Norway. But that pride aside, you’ll see the Law of Jante reflected all around you, especially in the education system. Here, schools don’t aim to create elites, they aim to give every child a solid foundation. Students with disabilities aren’t placed in specialised institutions — they’re integrated into mainstream education. This mindset carries over into the workplace too. Wage gaps between the top and bottom of the hierarchy are relatively small. Managers aren’t expected to act like leaders, and company directors often sit in the same open-plan offices as everyone else, not in private offices. One thing that might surprise you is that Norwegians aren’t necessarily the most polite people you’ll meet. This may stem from the fact that they lived in relative isolation for a very long time. Politeness often developed as a way to avoid conflict between strangers, but that wasn’t really necessary in one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth. Instead, Norwegians prize honesty and authenticity over formal niceties. Being overly polite can come across as fake. By the way, if you're ever invited to eat with Norwegians, you should always say Takk for maten, “Thank you for the food” , at the end of the meal. So yes, there’s politeness, just done the Norwegian way.