Nordic Countries - Gift For Dutch/Danish Hosts

Hi all,

This may be somewhat of a stretch to post here (forgive me - I'm still pretty new to FT)...

I am soon to be a brief houseguest of a Dutch couple living in Denmark. We have been communicating via e-mail for a couple of months (regarding the puppy I am traveling there to buy from them). Now the hour of my travel draweth near and I realize that I have absolutely no idea what to bring as a gift. Obviously it has to be something I can fly with (from the US). Is there any kind of established etiquette that I can follow or shall I just wing it? Or is it not appropriate?

Greatly appreciate any insight or advice whatsoever...

Cheers,

CCIE_Flyer

Moving this over to the regional forum that includes Denmark so that then experts there can weigh-in.

___________________________

Cholula
CommunityBuzz! Co-Moderator

I suppose you don´t know your hosts beforehand very well, their preferences etc . But a box of some really nice chocolates should be a safe bet and something that would allways be appreciated.
Or perhaps, since you are there to pick up a puppy, you could think of a gift related to dogs ?

It may not always be appropriate... but when I visit people in other countries I will usually ask if there is anything they want from England. Responses have ranged from "just bring yourself" to Cadbury's chocolates or Thornton's toffees to Tiptree jam or lemon curd. If your hosts have been to the USA they may well be grateful for some things that they can't get in Europe, like Hershey's chocolates.

If your hosts have been to the USA they may well be grateful for some things that they can't get in Europe, like Hershey's chocolates.
I have yet to meet a European who doesn't think Hershey's tastes like muddy cardboard, but maybe it's just everyone I know :p

A somewhat more crude description:
http://nitecloak.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/hersheys-classic-milk-chocolate-tastes-like-vomit/

And the explanation:
http://www.fluther.com/disc/37568/is-hersheys-chocolate-supposed-to-taste-like-that/

Basically, Hershey uses way less cocoa solids in their chocolate than Europeans do, and the milk is intentionally(?) somewhat curdled as well.

An alternative: the chocolate in Reese's peanut butter cups may not be any better, but at least the peanuts disguise it, and it's way more "American". Flavoured Hershey's Kisses (eg. cherry) are also more palatable than the original.

IMHO, based mostly on experience with the French, it is WAY more important to provide a small gift with some cachet than to bring something especially American.

Thus, a tiny (to my eyes) box of handmade chocolates wrapped in a very lovely package with ribbons and a fancy store sticker was much better received than a bottle of Jack Daniels.

The chocolate store advised to bring a small package. If it gets too big it was declasse, per the store.

Moving this over to the regional forum that includes Denmark so that then experts there can weigh-in.

___________________________

Cholula
CommunityBuzz! Co-Moderator

Just as long as you understand the distinct difference between the peoples of the Netherlands (the Dutch) and those of Denmark (the Danes), because many get them mixed up, oh Great Purveyor of the Spicy Sauce.

IMHO, based mostly on experience with the French, it is WAY more important to provide a small gift with some cachet than to bring something especially American.

The OP is asking about a Dutch family living in Denmark, not about French people. Totally different culture, totally different etiquette.

We host a lot of folks from abroad. Gifts vary, but can often be a well done picture book of the area in which they live. When I visit them, I've given a calendar that shows SoCal areas. I've also given CDs of music I consider American - jazz, blues, black gospel. A pound of Sees nuts and chews has been requested by several. I believe you said you are going for a dog. Is there a well done US book that covers the breed?

The OP is asking about a Dutch family living in Denmark, not about French people. Totally different culture, totally different etiquette.

Yep, I knew that from reading the original post. @:-)

By the way, if you think the Dutch and the French are "totally" different, where does that leave, say, the Dutch and the Saudis, difference wise? :confused: And, it's no secret that many widely held ideas of polite behavior come from the French.

By the way, I had excellent luck with a fancy little package of upscale chocolate pralines when I went sailing on a Belguim based yacht with a Dutch speaking host. :D

By the way, if you think the Dutch and the French are "totally" different, where does that leave, say, the Dutch and the Saudis, difference wise? :confused: And, it's no secret that many widely held ideas of polite behavior come from the French.

A lot of Americans seem to think that "Europe is Europe" and that something that applies in the Northern Norway should also apply in Southern Greece. My point was, simply, that something that is appropriate in France isn't necessarily appropriate in Denmark or the Netherlands... because we're many countries, not one.

Hi all,

This may be somewhat of a stretch to post here (forgive me - I'm still pretty new to FT)...

I am soon to be a brief houseguest of a Dutch couple living in Denmark. We have been communicating via e-mail for a couple of months (regarding the puppy I am traveling there to buy from them). Now the hour of my travel draweth near and I realize that I have absolutely no idea what to bring as a gift. Obviously it has to be something I can fly with (from the US). Is there any kind of established etiquette that I can follow or shall I just wing it? Or is it not appropriate?

Greatly appreciate any insight or advice whatsoever...

Cheers,

CCIE_Flyer

Hi there I am Dutch and maybe I could suggest a lovely table cloth or place mats from your country. It is nicer than chocolates that would probably melt anyway and it is a "present for life". American shops are so good (like the Dutch) at having their presents "gift wrapped". Easy as.... and enjoy your puppy dog ...asian ngo

or a bang & olufsen set.... :p

Well as a Dane living in Denmark... I wouldnt bring anything, esspecially since youre "just" buying a dog.
But since theyre Dutch, i dont know.
If youre looking to impress them, chocolate, if its a woman.
Whiskey if its the man, and basicly only if you know them, or plan to do so.

Well as a Dane living in Denmark... I wouldnt bring anything, esspecially since youre "just" buying a dog.
But since theyre Dutch, i dont know.
If youre looking to impress them, chocolate, if its a woman.
Whiskey if its the man, and basicly only if you know them, or plan to do so.

Well I certainly appreciate all of the posts here. I thought I had subscribed to the thread and would receive notification of any posts from others but apparently that wasn't the case. Bummer!

I ultimately got too busy in the final days to do any shopping, so the above advise was ultimately my approach. However, as I was able to fix an ongoing (and thus very nagging and expensive) computer problem they were having. I stayed up an entire night to find and apply a solution, for which they were very, very grateful. I didn't feel so bad about showing up empty-handed after that.

Next time I find myself in this rather difficult situation (being a houseguest of people I've never met or spoken with over the telephone), I'll start planning a lot earlier so I can come up with something appropriate...

Now THAT's a gift that keeps on giving!

A lot of Americans seem to think that "Europe is Europe" and that something that applies in the Northern Norway should also apply in Southern Greece. My point was, simply, that something that is appropriate in France isn't necessarily appropriate in Denmark or the Netherlands... because we're many countries, not one.

+1 ^

Look at Italy. Gifts given in norther Italy may not be as well accepted in southern Italy and vice versa. Heck, even something presented along the Po river might raise an eyebrow if gifted in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.