Submitted by:
Sofia Kasviki
Athens, Greece
Scandinavia has always been considered more advanced than the rest of Europe, and Norway is indeed more advanced. Not only because the average salary is almost three times the salary of an employee anywhere close to the Mediterranean, but also because the Norwegian culture of the last two centuries has moved humanity one step further in painting theater and … museums! Edvard Munch painted the “Scream” indicating the dead end of modern people, Henrik Ibsen saw the social structures changing due to the technological advances before any other theater playwright, and King Oscar II created the first open-air museum. Quite impressive if you think that Oslo, where the museum was founded, is covered with snow during almost all winter!
Norsk Folkemuseum - Church
Oslo’s open-air museum is out of the city in the suburb of Bygdøy and it “houses” houses! It is true! The museum is actually a big area where you can see buildings (mostly farmhouses but also churches and a school) from the end of the medieval era till the nineteenth century. It follows the basic principles of a folk museum but in order to believe that everything was functional you have it in its place under the sky (or snow!). The farmhouses are open to visit and you can even enter the upper floor of those that have one. The school has chairs, desks, and a blackboard; some of the farmhouses are equipped with beds, stoves, and carpets; around the paths there are milestones… It is like time stands still but also running at the same time.
Norsk Folkemuseum - Farmhouses
The farmhouses are small and with a bit of imagination you can see how people lived. They were shorter as the doors and beds are smaller. They used animal furs to keep them warm, and they spent most of their time in the central room that was a bedroom, a dinning room, a living room, and part of the kitchen. The girls played with dolls and the boys with swords. The fireplace was the center of attention and the food would boil there in huge pots for hours.
Norsk Folkemuseum- Children's toys
Part of the visit is the indoor collection with objects of everyday life, clothes used at that time, and also toys. The exhibits are mostly of the 19th century and the toys a bit girlish (there are many dolls, doll houses, and porcelain cooking utensils) but it is something you need to see in order to get a full understanding of life in Norway the past centuries. Plus you will adore the dollhouses! Another impressive collection is the one about the life of the Sami. The Sami were living as nomads at the northern part of Scandinavia and mostly Norway. At the museum, you will see how their tents were set, you will get an idea of their furry clothes, you will find out how they cooked and you will learn how they evolved. You can even admire a Sami business costume of the 21st century!
Norsk Folkemuseum - Sami
If you plan to go, be prepared to pay. This is Norway and everything is expensive. You must have found out a bit earlier, before going to the museum when you were paying for the tolls and the winter tires and the exchange taxes from euro/ dollars/whatever to Norwegian crowns! If you are completely bankrupt and so desperate that you would do anything to enter the museum don’t go directly to the cashier… Go around the museum and find the church… The bench there is a bit low and there is a small wall to climb “inside” the museum. But you have to go out the same way you entered because at the entrance/exit you have to show your ticket! Good luck!
Norsk Folkemuseum (The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History)
Museumsv. 10 0214 Oslo, Norway
Phone: +47 22 12 37 00
Open every day, 10:00 – 18:00.
I’ll go, you were quite convincing!
OMG I LUB IT!!!!! Ima go there now thanks sofia. i mean chauncie.