Ever been invited to a “dugnad” in Norway? Maybe at your child’s kindergarten, at school, or in your housing cooperative?
For many foreigners, it’s a mystery: why should parents paint fences on a Saturday, tidy the schoolyard, or rake leaves around the block – without getting paid, instead of just hiring a company to do the job?
Welcome to dugnad – one of Norway’s most fascinating traditions.
What is dugnad?
It means voluntary, unpaid work for the common good. No salary, no contract – but you get something else: community, coffee, and cake.
👉 In kindergarten: cleaning toys, preparing the outdoor area for a new season, or refilling sand in the sandboxes.
👉 At school: tidying the gym or organizing sales to raise money for trips or new equipment.
👉 In housing cooperatives: raking leaves, painting benches, or cleaning shared areas.
And at the end? Everyone gathers. Cakes (often baked as part of the dugnad), coffee, and conversation are the real highlight. The social part is just as important as the work.
Why does dugnad matter?
✅ Equality and collaboration
Everyone takes part – CEOs, teachers, students, and new neighbors. No one is “too important” to help out.
✅ Trust building
By giving without expecting something back, you show reliability. That’s exactly how trust is built in Norwegian business culture too.
✅ Cultural learning
One afternoon of dugnad can teach you more about Norway than an entire intercultural training program.
As a foreigner, you might think:
“I moved to Norway for work – and suddenly I’m painting fences in my housing cooperative!”
But that’s exactly the point. Dugnad is a word you can’t really translate – and a concept that says everything about how Norwegians view community, responsibility, and cooperation.
And maybe most importantly: it all ends with coffee, cake, and a chat – because dugnad is just as much about people as it is about paint and garbage bags.
💡 Next time you’re invited to a dugnad: bring work gloves – and maybe a cake. It’s the best investment in trust and relationships you’ll ever make in Norway.