Luxembourg - Culture, Etiquette and Business Practices

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What will you Learn?

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You will gain an understanding of a number of key areas including:

• Language
• Religion and beliefs
• Culture and society
• Social etiquette and customs
• Business culture and etiquette

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Luxembourg had no flag until 1830, when people were urged to display the national colours. The flag was defined as a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and blue in 1848, but it was not actually officially adopted until 1993! Photo by Li Jia on Unsplash

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Facts and Statisitcs

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Location: Western Europe, bordering Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Capital: Luxembourg

Population: 602,000+ (2019 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and resident workers)

Religions: 87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims

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Language in Luxembourg

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French and German are the official languages of Luxembourg.

• The spoken language of the majority of the 400,000 population is Luxembourgish.
• The 1984 Language Act determines that French is the only language of legislation, and that French, German as well as Luxembourgish can be used for administrative or judicial purposes.
• Official documents are usually not available in Luxembourgish.

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Palace Guards shot by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández at the Palace of the Grand Duke.

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Luxembourg Society & Culture

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The Family

• Luxembourg is a small country and many people remain in the same town in which they were raised, therefore creating close extended families.
• Obligation to one's family is a person's first priority.
• Parents are intimately involved in the education and career choices of their children.
• The family is the social adhesive of the country and each member has certain duties and responsibilities.

 

Religion

• The majority of the people are Roman Catholic, although Article 19 of the constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
• The church's strong influence on the culture is reflected in the national holidays, many of which are religious observances.
• It is also seen in the respect for hierarchical relationships, the formal and ritualized behaviour, and the way that the family is seen as the basis of the social structure.

 

Privacy

• Although friendly and informal with close friends and family, Luxembourgers are often reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders.
• They are private people and do not put their possessions or emotions on display.
• Luxembourgers do not ask personal questions and will refuse to answer should you intrude on their privacy.
• Personal life is kept separate from business.
• If a friendship develops at work and is carried into the personal arena, this camaraderie will not be brought into the office.
• Personal matters are not discussed with friends, no matter how close.

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A culture of castles helps explain why privacy is so valued today. Photo of Vianden castle by Mike van den Bos on Unsplash

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Etiquette and Manners in Luxembourg

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Meeting and Greeting

• Greetings are reserved and formal until a relationship has been established.
• The most common greeting is a brief handshake.
• Very close friends greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks three times, starting with the left cheek and alternating.
• This can be between women or a man and a woman.
• Men never kiss other men; they always shake hands.
• Surnames with the honorific titles Monsieur or Madame are used in most social situations.
• Wait to be invited before using someone's first name and always use the formal pronoun for you, "vous" rather than the informal "tu".

 

Gift Giving Etiquette

• If you are invited to someone's home, bring a box of good chocolates or flowers to the hostess.
• Invitations to tea are formal and require the same gift as would a dinner party.
• Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is considered an unlucky number.
• Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.
• A small gift for the children is always appreciated.
• Gifts are not usually opened when received if there are other guests present.

 

Dining Etiquette

• Table manners are formal in Luxembourg.
• There is a proper protocol to follow and you will be expected to demonstrate good manners at all times.
• Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.
• Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• Meals are often served family-style.
• Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible and not in your lap.
• Do not begin eating until the hostess begins.
• Most food is eaten with utensils, including sandwiches.
• If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
• Finish everything on your plate.
• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.
• The host gives the first toast.
• An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
• Women may offer toasts.

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Luxembourg's representative at the WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights which took place in Geneva (November 14 to November 18, 2016).

Photo by WIPO (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Business Culture and Etiquette in Luxembourg

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Building Relationships & Communication

• Although third-party introductions are not necessary, they are recommended.
• It is important that you treat business colleagues with respect and not do anything to embarrass them..
• Luxembourg businesspeople develop personal relationships with the people with whom they conduct business.
• Do not brag about your accomplishments, as this is seen as a sign of poor breeding.
• Building a relationship requires demonstrating a sincere interest in the country and the people.
• This is a hierarchical culture, so it is crucial that you show proper respect and deference to those who have attained positions of importance.
• Luxembourgers are careful and prudent.
• They take time before they trust people and approach getting to know you in a deliberate, measured manner, which cannot be rushed.
• If you appear impatient, they will not do business with you.
• Luxembourgers are excellent linguists and many are sufficiently fluent to conduct meetings in English.
• This does not mean that they are familiar with the latest idioms or expressions. Be careful to speak slowly.
• Luxembourgers prefer subtlety to directness.
• Although their communication is more direct than many cultures, they use tact and diplomacy when speaking and expect the same in return.
• They will tell you what they think, even if it is not what you want to hear, but they will do so with the utmost of charm and politeness.
• Being blunt is considered rude.
• If you do not understand what has been said or want further clarification of a point, you may ask questions, as long as you do so politely.
• Luxembourgers prefer communication to be logical and based on reason.
• Business is not the place for emotions or feelings.

 

Business Meetings Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance if handled by telephone and 1 month in advance if arranged by letter.
• It is sometimes difficult to schedule meetings in July and August, which are common vacation times, the week between Christmas and New Year, and Easter week.
• Punctuality for meetings is taken extremely seriously.
• If you will be more than 5 minutes late, telephone and offer your apologies and an explanation.
• Arriving late may brand you as unreliable, since how can you be trusted to meet a deadline if you are late for a meeting?
• Send an agenda before the meeting. Belgians like their meetings to be well focused and to know what will be covered.
• Do not sit down until you are invited to do so.
• Meetings adhere to strict timetables.
• Meetings commence with a minimum amount of small talk.
• Once a meeting starts it will continue without interruption until it is finished.
• Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.
• Do not remove your jacket during a meeting.
• Presentations should be accurate and precise. Avoid hyperbole or making exaggerated claims.
• Present as much technical information as possible to support your position.

 

Negotiating

• Business is hierarchical. Decisions are made at the top of the company.
• Decisions are made in private.
• Decisions are reached slowly since Luxembourgers study both the long-term and the immediate effects.
• Business is conducted slowly. Be patient and do not appear ruffled by the adherence to protocol.
• Do not appear overly friendly. Luxembourgers compartmentalize their business and personal lives.
• Avoid confrontational behaviour or high-pressure tactics.

 

Management

• Read our guide to Management Culture in Luxembourg for more detailed information on this topic.

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