Most pleasant introduction to discover Norway’s culture with our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Norway is an active participant to world affairs and takes its share of responsibility in global issues. Norway has a foreign policy known as the “Norwegian model,” the goal of which is to contribute to peace and stability through a coordinated response among governmental and non-governmental Norwegian organizations; acting as an honest broker in international conflicts; an informal network of Norwegian individuals with access and credibility among parties; and the willingness to take the long view in international issues. Norway works actively to find lasting political solutions to wars and conflicts by facilitating dialogue between parties to conflict and supporting other actors’ conflict resolution efforts. Discover even more information on the subject here : Kristin Skjefstad Edibe.
Bergen and the western fjords : this is the place where historical World Heritage sites meet innovative fashion, trendy restaurants, and a progressive music scene in Norway’s second-largest city. You can visit some of the country’s top museums like KODE art museums and composer homes, get lost in squiggly cobblestone streets, and experience the city from above at one of the seven surrounding mountain tops. Bergen is the gateway to some of Norway’s most famous fjords, including the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, in the north, and the Hardangerfjord – where you’ll find the famous mountain plateau Trolltunga – in the south. Many of the fjords have sidearms that are at least as beautiful, but far less busy.
Norwegian gastronomy : There has been a formidable change in attitudes towards Norway’s food traditions in recent years. When it comes to food and drink in Norway, a culinary revolution has been quietly taking place in the last few years. Restaurants and ordinary kitchens have seen a dramatic rise in local and organic food. What really characterizes Norwegian cooking is largely found in rather unique agricultural customs: sheep, cows and goats graze in outlying pastures along the coast and in the mountains. A cold climate and unpolluted land are ideal for slow growing vegetables and fruit and berries without the extensive use of pesticides. Modest farms that produce milk, cheese and beef in healthy environments are virtually disease-free and subject to strict regulations when it comes to animal welfare. And of course, the extensive coastline gives Norway long and rich seafood traditions.
Bergen in Norway is home to KODE. Ride the scenic and iconic Bergen Railway line across the country to the cultural hub of Bergen, and explore the city’s KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, which hosts one of the biggest collections of art, arts and crafts, design, and music in the Nordic countries. Almost 50,000 pieces are exhibited throughout the four museum buildings KODE 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the city center of Bergen, and in the homes of the famous musicians and composers Ole Bull, Harald Sæverud, and Edvard Grieg. Head straight to KODE 3 if you want to see Jealousy and The Woman in Three Stages by Edvard Munch. In KODE 1 and KODE 2 you’ll find temporary exhibitions featuring artists ranging from Paul Cézanne, Nikolai Astrup, and Paul McCarthy, as well as contemporary Norwegian artists. KODE 4 is hosting a take-over program with artists and students from the Bergen area.
Classy rainwear and high-end fashion: Norway has many designers that operate in the high end of the fashion spectrum. Several of them are sold in the most important fashion stores in places like New York, Tokyo and Paris. Norwegian Rain and Swims are classy rainwear brands, while Holzweiler produces a rather unique scarf collection in cashmere, silk and wool. The importance of seasons in Norway is underlined by a brand called Fall Winter Spring Summer that produces women’s clothing with a no-fuss Scandinavian aesthetic that equally balances femininity and masculinity. Another women’s fashion brand, byTiMo, creates garments inspired by vintage fashion, while Line of Oslo focuses on comfortable clothes for women with a busy lifestyle. The brand Johnnylove from Trondheim is an example of many exciting things happening outside of Oslo as well.
A new building has transformed Oslo’s skyline, nodding respectfully towards Norway’s bustling capital. In order to honour Munch’s legacy, Oslo has built the new MUNCH museum, one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to a single artist. Estudio Herreros designed the sixty-metre tall building, which has less than half the emissions of corresponding buildings. Many of the architectural decisions were climate driven. The building is clad in wavy recycled aluminium panels that have varying degrees of transparency. The exterior is designed to screen and reflect sunlight to maintain a stable temperature inside. Moving the fragile paintings into the museum was no easy job. The largest paintings, which are up to 50 square metres in size, had to be transported by water to the new museum. They were then lifted 21 metres by crane and maneuvered through a large opening in the side of the building’s sixth floor. Afterwards, the seven-metre high opening was sealed shut – for good.
The most popular sport in Norway is, by far and away, football. While football only comes third by television viewership (after biathlon and cross-country skiing), the sport is the most popular one in terms of active membership, with 8.5 percent of the population playing it! Even though the national team is lesser known, Norway has produced famous players and managers such as Erling Haaland and Ole Gunnar Solskjær