A foreigner going to Germany might think that all Germans like to be by themselves or that they are very private people. While it's not an overall fact that they like to be by themselves all of the time, they do greatly value their privacy. They show this in many ways.

Doors are always shut

At first glance inside a German home you might notice that all of the doors are closed, even in the in the toilet room when no one is using it. A door being closed in Germany is a statement of order, and doesn't necessarily mean that you can't go in.

The home

Almost all private homes in Germany have a fence or a hedge around it to keep out the noise and outside world. They also keep the drapes drawn at night.