Norwegian Folk Museum

Oslo, Norway

Norsk Folkemuseum, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, is a museum of cultural history with extensive collections of artifacts from all social groups and all regions of the country. It also incorporates a large open air museum with more than 150 buildings relocated from towns and rural districts.

Norsk Folkemuseum was established in 1894 by librarian and historian Hans Aall (1867-1946). It acquired the core area of its present property in 1898. After having built temporary exhibition buildings and re-erected a number of rural buildings, the museum could open its gates to the public in 1901. In 1907 the collections of King Oscar II on the neighbouring site was incorporated into the museum. Its five relocatd buildings, with the Gol stave church in the centre, is recognized as the world's first open air museum, founded in 1881.

Among the open air museum's more significant buildings are Gol stave church from the 13th century which was incorporated into the Norsk Folkemuseum in 1907. The Gol Stave Church is one of five medieval buildings at the museum, which also includes the Rauland farmhouse (Raulandstua) from the 14th century, and the 1865 tenement building relocated from 15 Wessels gate in Oslo. Seven of the nine flats show typical interiors from various periods of the 19th and 20th centuries, including a flat inhabited by an immigrant family from Pakistan as it was furnished in 2002. In 1951, the Sami collections in the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Oslo were transferred to the Norsk Folkemuseum.

The museum also possesses a large photographic archive, including a significant portion of the works of Anders Beer Wilse. In 2004, the administration of the adjacent Bygdøy Royal Estate was transferred to the museum. Throughout its existence, research has focused on building and furniture, clothing and textiles, technical and social culture, agriculture, working memory and Sami culture.

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Address

Museumsveien 10, Oslo, Norway
See all sites in Oslo

Details

Founded: 1894
Category: Museums in Norway

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Tim Lam (2 months ago)
The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, also called the Norwegian Folk Museum, is an expansive open air museum with structures relocated or reconstructed from the surrounding areas over the past few hundred years. You can spend an entire day there if you read every detail. There are also two buildings with exhibitions close to the entrance if you’re trying to avoid the rain. I would encourage people to spend their time wandering the grounds as you’ll see different buildings you would see in Norway’s history. There are also staff that can be found throughout that do different things that will be great for children.
Rogerio Kiyoshi Wakate Yonemura (2 months ago)
An excellent place to know some of Norway's history. The open air museum is a great experience. Tip: the park has a different opening hours comparing to the museum. You can spend more time before and after so you can start earlier on the park, go to some exhibitions then spend more time at the open air part. You get extra 2 hours (and there is content for that).
Sagar Chamoli (2 months ago)
I must say it's one of the best museums that I have visited. Unlike traditional museums where you normally see things inside, this one is an open museum where they have kept buildings during different time periods. They also had an interesting collection of Norwegian history and i recommend spending at least 2-3 hours. It's a must visit once in Oslo.
Steven Cheng (3 months ago)
A great museum that recreated and recorded the Norwegian history, culture and people. There are an English speaking guide that takes you through the museum to introduce to various buildings and locations to explain the exhibit. It was very educational. You can spend a whole day in here to really understand and appreciate the history of Norway.
Zineb Q (4 months ago)
The Folkemuseum in Oslo is highly recommended for those interested in Norwegian history and culture. The open-air museum features a wide array of historic buildings, including traditional wooden houses and the impressive Gol Stave Church. Visitors enjoy the immersive experience, with live demonstrations, cultural performances, and detailed exhibits that bring Norway’s past to life. It’s an excellent place to explore the country’s heritage in a scenic and educational setting.
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