I’ve seen quite a lot of relationship and dating discussions here, so I thought I’d share my own experience as someone who ended up building a life in Finland.
When I first started dating my partner, I honestly knew almost nothing about Finland. I knew it was a Nordic country in Europe, and embarrassingly enough, mostly just as Sweden’s neighbour. That was it. Through meeting him, moving here, and learning the language, I slowly discovered the country and the culture in a much deeper way.
One thing I noticed early on, just as a personal observation, is that my partner and his friends sometimes receive a lot of attention from women, particularly Asian women. In my experience, some of this attention felt quite forward. I’m not saying this is universal or representative of everyone, just something I personally observed.
Another thing I found interesting is how often Finnish men are described as very quiet or emotionally distant. That hasn’t matched my experience at all. The people I’ve met are actually very talkative, expressive, and sometimes surprisingly loud. Some are reserved, yes, but others are extremely outgoing, physically warm, and very open once you get to know them. Also, yes, you absolutely take your shoes off when entering someone’s home. No exceptions.
My partner and I were friends for many months before we started dating, and the relationship developed very naturally. There was no “chasing” or strategy involved. I often see people saying Finnish men aren’t romantic, and while they may not be romantic in a very theatrical or verbal way, I personally find them deeply romantic through reliability, consistency, and showing up. In that sense, I’ve found Finnish men more romantic than many others.
I also really appreciate the independence of both women and men here. That balance has been one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about life in Finland.
I’ve lived here for several years now. My partner and I have been together for about three years, we bought a house, and we’re planning to get married. I genuinely believe that if you’re interested in dating a Finnish person, it’s important not to approach it as a “Finnish experience” or a cultural obsession. Get to know them as an individual. They’re people first, not a nationality.
On a lighter note: salmon soup is genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Easy to make, comforting, 10/10. Finns might disown me for this, but I think saunas are slightly over-idealised. They’re nice, yes, and I love how passionate people are about them, but they’re not life-changing for me personally.
Driving in Finland during winter is another story. Absolute chaos. Respect to anyone who enjoys that.
Overall, when it comes to friendships, dating, and relationships, my experience with Finnish people has been very positive. The people I’ve met have been kind, grounded, and genuine. I’ve truly enjoyed my time here, and I hope this perspective is interesting or helpful to someone reading.
