Germany has never had a „Dating“ culture. Dating seems like a weird thing American teenagers did in the 50s to keep them from engaging in immoral activities. So they went to a milk bar or a drive through. In modern times it seems like even americans use the word “dating” as a euphemism for a sexual relationship.

Having said that it seems like indeed it is typical to meet up for a coffee or meal before committing to sex. This feels normal for most women and probably most guys over 30. (I am a 40+ male).

I am not interested in one night stands, but I do expect to have sex after max 2 meetups. I completely exclude the idea of trying to establish a permanent relationship before getting physical but luckily most women seem to agree.

Germans in general don’t like meeting at private apartments and even a group of friends would usually prefer to meet in a bar or something. This can be a bit annoying because I prefer not to make physical moves in public. I usually try to make the second “date” at my place or theirs and if they refuse and say it might be “misunderstood” then I know they are not physically interested and i can unmatch.

So it’s absolutely normal to have at least one date in public I think. Especially if you are looking for a relationship not just a one night stand. Just unmatch the guys that are obviously looking for something different. There are plenty of guys on there looking for a relationship. But don’t be too much of a prude. You should only need one or two dates in a public place before having sex and seeing if it turns into a relationship.