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Service Was Not On The Menu At New Seaside Restaurant in Oslo

Food/Drink
Norway

Tor Kjølberg

July 20, 2021

Service Was Not On The Menu At New Seaside Restaurant in Oslo

Last week we visited the refurbished seaside restaurant Signalen in the capital of Norway. The presentation was nice, but the food is hardly worth the price or the ferry ride from downtown Oslo. The bad dining experience started already with the reservation system. Service was not at all on the menu at this new seaside restaurant in Oslo.

Although reservation, wine, beer, décor and service all figure into my final analysis of a restaurant’s worth, for me the most important ingredient is the food. However, last week at Signalen, a simple thing like the reservation system foreshadowed my expectations.

The introduction
Let me first explain why the reservation system disappointed me. I wrote a polite mail to the restaurant’s reservation mail address three days before our visit without receiving any confirmation. Therefore, I called the restaurant the day ahead of our scheduled date and they said they couldn’t find my mail. They reserved a table for two though.

At arrival we were seated at the window row but at a distance from an open window door giving some fresh air into the sun heated venue. It was a beautiful summer day and the restaurant was far from fully occupied. I asked the waiter if we could move to a table nearer to the open sliding door, and after some time he offered us a vacant table. We studied the menu. ordered two beers and and ordered a summer pizza and my summer favorite, pan fried mackerel.

The position of our table let us observe a number of staff members who seemed to go well together, but the staff’s warmth for each other, didn’t seem to extend to the customers. However, after a while a friendly waiter passed and asked if everything was well. I said we were waiting for the food.

We waited at least 25 minutes.

The history
Signalen opened after a long-awaited reconstruction in 2019. In 1900 it was a beach hotel here with a capacity for about 50 guests. In 1914 it burned down. A new hotel was established in the late 30s, but an ugly international episode destroyed the marked for high end beach hotels. Instead, it was used as a party room for occupying forces and a place for recreation for front fighter wives during WWII.

After the war, the decay continued until the early 60s when everything was demolished. For decades, Nesoddtangen was just a grey, sad pier.

Dag Tjersland has gained a good reputation by being perhaps the foremost exponent of Italian cuisine in Norway, and his dream of establishing a new restaurant at Nesoddtangen was realized in 2019. But the devil is in the details. The bread accompanied by a slice of smoked salmon was under any criticism. Serving two huge rolls consisting of a doughy mess in a country full of delicious bread is a disgrace.

Disappointing food
Signalen’s menu is dominated by seafood. 25 minutes after ordering we were served our pizza and mackerel. The pizza was ok, but the mackerel was a huge disappointment. I honor good chefs experimenting with dishes and ingredients, but this good fish and the new potatoes were dipped in a spicy mass so strong that it took away all the flavor.

Related: To Norway to Eat Pizza

The absent service
I stopped eating and placed my fork and knife in a position signaling I was finished eating. Now I was in the mood of experimenting. I was just sitting watching the waiters passing by – for more than an hour! Then I couldn’t wait anymore. I got eye contact with one of the waiters and told him how impressed I was by the waiters being able to totally ignore our table. We paid and left.

This place is in desperate need of a head waiter.

There is a ferry service from downtown Aker brygge to Nesoddtangen, Nesoddfergene, leaving every half hour. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes.

So, we enjoyed a wonderful dessert and wine at the charming outdoor section of one of the fine dining restaurants behind Town hall (Fr. Nansen’s Place) downtown.

Service Was Not On The Menu At New Seaside Restaurant in Oslo, written by Tor Kjolberg

Feature image (on top): Signalen

Solo Travel Tips: Where To Go If You’re Single In Stockholm

Attractions
Sweden

Tor Kjølberg

July 19, 2021

Solo Travel Tips: Where To Go If You’re Single In Stockholm

Solo travel has become one of the biggest travel trends: a recent survey has shown that there has been a 42 percent increase in solo traveler bookings over the last two years. While 26 percent of those traveling alone say that they simply want to be by themselves and explore brand new places, other travelers are going solo so they can meet new people. Here, our contributing writer Karoline Gore gives you some solo travel tips: Where to go if you’re single in Stockholm.

If you’re single and you want to meet lots of attractive and interesting people during your travels, then there’s no better place than Stockholm for your next holiday. Not only is the city a paradise for those who love being single, but it also has lots of interesting and vibrant places where you can find a potential friend or a romantic interest. If you’re ready to mingle, here’s where to go if you’re single in Stockholm.

Meet fellow history enthusiasts at Skansen
Stockholm has the highest number of single people in Europe, and it’s the reason why it’s been dubbed the continent’s dating capital. Almost 50 percent of the city’s households have a single occupant, and with its vibrant foodie scene and numerous museums, people who live here have lots of choices when it comes to dating. If you’re newly-single and you want to emotionally, physically and psychologically distance yourself from your ex, spend your no-contact period in Stockholm, and check out Skansen, which is one of the best places to meet people.

Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum, and there are lots of things to do here that will enable you to meet and talk with fellow history enthusiasts. You can visit the historical farmhouses and farmsteads, and get a glimpse of how the people of Sweden lived back in the day. Afterwards, head to Gröna Lund, an amusement park that’s just three minutes away from Skansen. Go on any of the 27 rides in the park, and strike up a conversation with the locals and your fellow tourists.

Head outdoors and meet someone new
Whenever there’s sunlight, single Scandinavians make the most of it by going outdoors and engaging in activities that will benefit their health. Try going ice skating at Kungstradgarden’s ice rink or any of the city’s other skating areas, or go on an ice-skating tour of Stockholm – there’s a possibility that you could meet someone new while you’re on the ice. You can also join yoga, dance or aerobics classes at some of the parks in the city, and make new friends while busting out a move to a Top 40 pop song.

Go to a singles bar or a nightclub
Let your hair down and have fun at a Stockholm singles bar or nightclub. Some of the best places that you should check out include Berns, Fasching, Corner Club, and Cafe Opera. If you happen to meet someone at any of these places, ask them out on a date, and then meet up after a few days at a nice restaurant or a cocktail bar, such as Bar Nombre, Icebar, or Pharmarium. During the day, go for a walk in Gamla Stan. Walking through the cobblestone streets of this area feels like going back in time, and there are plenty of shops where you can idly browse together, as well as romantic cafes where you can sit and have a quiet chat.

Stockholm is the dating capital of Europe, and what better way to celebrate your newly-single status than by going on a holiday in this vibrant city? Be adventurous and put yourself out there, and don’t forget to have lots of fun!

Solo Travel Tips: Where To Go If You’re Single In Stockholm is written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Karoline Gore. Karoline is a freelance writer from Stoke on Trent in the UK who left the corporate grind when she started a family and has never looked back. She enjoys contributing to a range of online publications on the topics that are important to her.

All images © Visit Sweden. Feature image (on top) Photo: Liselotte van der Meijs

Sweden’s Disgusting Food Museum

Food/Drink
Sweden

Tor Kjølberg

July 16, 2021

Unfamiliar food can be delicious, but Sweden’s fermented fish, surströmming, makes it rarely beyond the country’s border. Sweden’s disgusting food museum in Malmö invites visitors to explore the world of food and challenge their notions of what is edible.

The Disgusting Food Museum aims to inspire both nausea and curiosity about why certain foods are considered “disgusting.” Fermented herring from the Baltic Sea is indeed a candidate to the world’s smelliest food.

In fact, the museum honestly try to analyze why some dishes considered gross and inedible in some countries are viewed as delicacies in others. About surströmming, museum director Andreas Ahrens says, “The first thing everyone notices is the smell. It’s powerful, pungent and fills the room instantly.” The reason is that the gases that were created during the fermenting process are released upon opening. For this reason, cans of surströmming are usually opened outside, often with a party atmosphere.

Normally, the evolutionary function of disgust is to help us avoid disease and unsafe food. However, in this case, what seems delicious to the Swedes is revolting to others. However, the museum isn’t at all only about surströmming. Adventurous eaters are invited to taste and smell 80 of the world’s grossest delicacies, from roasted Guinea pigs from Peru, known as cuy, and maggot-infested Sardinian cheese casu marzu to turtle soup as well as fermented birds and Iceland’s infamous well-aged shark dis hákarl.

Related: The Stinky Swedish Fish Dish

Is a hardboiled fertilized duck egg really disgusting — or is it just a matter of taste? “Most people just spit out the food they’re unable to swallow,” explains Ahrens.

The star of the museum, surströmming is promoted world-wide by The Swedish Surströmming Supplier that ships the cans internationally.

Do you dare smell the world’s stinkiest cheese? Or taste bull penis or sweets made with metal cleansing chemicals?

The Disgusting Food Museum’s director Andreas Ahrens grew curious about the subject of gross food after he found huge success with his previous project, the Museum of Failure.

Perhaps the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö can change our ideas of disgust and help us embrace environmentally sustainable foods of the future?

Sweden’s Disgusting Food Museum, written by Tor Kjolberg

All images © The Disgusting Food Museum

Top 10 Places to Paddle in Norway

Attractions
Norway

Tor Kjølberg

July 15, 2021

Traveling on vacation does not have to be boring. Getting out and adventuring by doing things that aren’t in your comfort zone is the key to having a memorable trip. Among the many adventurous activities you can partake in, kayaking is one of the prime sports to enjoy. Here, you can read about the top 10 places to paddle in Norway.

It is just you and the water. Without a shadow of a doubt, kayaking can help clear one’s head from all the stress from work or school. Fortunately, Norway has one of the best places to paddle, including some popular rivers and streams. Find out more about the top 10 places to paddle in Norway.

Breheimsenteret Glacier Center
Located in Jostedalen with great views and close proximity to some of the best mountain hotels in Norway, you can plan a kayaking trip to Breheimsenteret Glacier Center. With beautiful river channels that have mountains running parallel to each other, you can completely detach from society when paddling in this place.

Fortunately, Breheimsenteret Glacier Center has some other fun activities that can also be booked. Additionally, after a long day of paddling, it is comforting to know that there are restaurants around to fill your appetite.

Trondheim Kayak
Trondheim Kayak, colloquially called Trondheim Kajakk, boasts one of the most beautiful rivers in Norway, the Nidevlen. Kayaking through these waters is an absolutely breathtaking experience that will leave you coming back for more.

According to travel writers for the best essay writing service, the setup of this activity center has made it easy for beginners or inexperienced paddlers to enjoy this experience. You can get some training before breaking the waters if you’ve never done it before. The best part is that you can also take night paddling trips at Trondheim Kayak.

Dagali Fjellpark
Dagali Fjellpark has some of the most challenging paddling courses, which might be suitable for more experienced kayakers. Their paddling course takes you to some rough waters in the wilderness and peaking your adrenaline.

Novice paddlers can also try this course out if they’re adrenaline junkies and perhaps even bring an experienced friend to partner up with them. This place also has some facilities that are suitable for family and corporate team building events as well as other fun activities onsite.

Sandefjord
Sandefjord is the best place for paddling fanatics that are interested in taking this activity to the ocean. This place has beautiful beaches and kayak renting facilities with trained instructors that are there to assist beginner paddlers. Experienced paddlers can just rent the equipment and hit the waters independently.

As per an essays help online, kayaking at Sandefjord is very fun, taking into consideration the tide and your risk appetite. However, you can book an appointment according to the circumstances, such as the tide and time.

Flekkefjord
In Flekkefjord, you can find numerous kayaking facilities that offer different trip packages and rental packages. The most notable characteristics of paddling here is passing through islands and beautiful uninhabited islets. Flekkefjord waters are calm and can be perfect for paddlers that would love a romantic kayaking trip.

On the other hand, beginner paddlers can also enjoy these calm waters as they learn how to paddle. There are other activities also you can partake in at Flekkefjord, such as diving and snorkeling.

Related: Whitewater Rafting in Norway

The Helgeland coast
The Helgeland coast has some very beautiful sandy white beaches with beautiful blue waters that are a marvel to look at. These waters are very calm as they are surrounded by some mountainous islands that prevent heavy wind and waves from coming through.

Although the water is very cold here, it still is a great place to kayak and just enjoy the breeze and detach from the rest of the world. You can rent a kayak and paddles and immediately start hitting the waters in Helgeland Coast.

Finnøy
Finnøy has a variety of options to choose from in terms of the paddling route you are going to take. Since this place has some beautiful coastal areas, you can experience some sea kayaking.

However, if you would like to venture more into river paddling, there are several beaches to enjoy kayaking in. These routes are friendly to all experience levels of paddling, so beginners should not fear Finnøy and all the challenges it has.

Hidra Island
Hidra Island is the perfect kayaking resort for families with younger ones that might like to be part of the action. If the child has not reached the minimum years to kayak, there are plenty of other activities that they can partake in as their parents paddle.

For example, they can snorkel and get to see the sea life as their parents explore the tranquil waters of Hidra Island. There are also some great restaurants with delicious food to fill you after a long day paddling.

Flåm Village
Beautiful mountains are on either side of Flåm Kayaking routes and participants can choose between tranquil and rough waters. For beginners, there is an option to go with a guide and on the other hand, you can just rent the equipment and experience it on your own.

There are some other benefits of paddling in Flam because you can rent some dry bags as well as camera boxes. That gives you the opportunity to take memorable photos during the kayaking trip.

Vesterålen
Vesterålen offers some great opportunities to paddlers to experience on sea waters and kayak on gentle waves of this archipelago. There are also interesting paddling events here, such as the Arctic Sea Kayak Race.

In this location also, you can rent the equipment only for self-guided tours or ask for a tour guide. In either case, it is an experience none like any other.

Top 10 Places to Paddle in Norway – The bottom line
There are so many different places you can go paddling in Norway and most of them have some calm waters that are tranquil. On the other hand, though, there are some rough waters for adrenaline junkies that love living on the edge. You can rent the equipment and go for a self-guided tour or use the provision of having a tour guide throughout the trip.

Top 10 Places to Paddle in Norway is written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Charlie Svensson. Charlie is a fast, engaging freelance writer. Skilled in content writing and blogging. The favorite topics of his posts are education, social media, marketing, SEO, motivation blogging and self-growth. Excellent adaptability of skills to reach diverse audiences.

Feature image (on top): Visit Trondheim

3 Residential Danish Sites For Architecture Fans

Architecture
Denmark

Tor Kjølberg

July 14, 2021

3 Residential Danish Sites For Architecture Fans

Denmark is home to gorgeous natural views of grandiose cliffs, fjords, and stunning stretches of ocean. But its urban scene is just as incredible as its natural one. Denmark has a long history of architecture. It has produced architects that have gone off to create some of the most infamous world structures like the Sydney Opera House. The country can trace its historical architectural roots to the times of the Vikings. It has been shaped Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles and developed into a style that is appreciated worldwide. When visiting Denmark, keep an eye out for these incredible architectural sites. Learn more about the 3 residential Danish sites for architecture fans.

The Wave
The Wave, also called Bølgen, is a residential building formed by five rolling wave-like structures that host 100 apartments. It was designed by architect Henning Larsen of the Danish design studio Henning Larsen Architects. Its construction took nearly 11 years, starting in 2006, and having to briefly pause due to the 2008 financial crisis. To put together these waves, an immense amount of calculated construction and rigging was necessary for it to come to fruition. It was finally completed in 2018. Unfortunately, Larsen passed away in 2013 and was never able to see the final building. Its design was inspired by the surrounding nature and rolling hills, which are uncommon in Denmark. Even before it was fully constructed, The Wave was already winning awards for its innovative design.

The Iceberg
Isbjerget, known as the Iceberg, is another incredible residential building that makes it a striking sight on the Danish skyline. The inspiration for the building came from the floating icebergs in the North Atlantic. The structure mimics the shape and color of these giant floating ice blocks. The building was a collaboration between four architectural firms, SeARCH, Louis Paillard, CEBRA, and JDS Architects. It was the first building project that was finished in the area. The building sits on a former industrial port that is now being converted into residential and commercial neighborhoods.

8 House
8 House is another residential project put together by BIG architecture firm. It gets its name from the “8” shape it has when looking at the building from above. 8 House was constructed with a very common Danish method of transportation in mind, biking. It has a bike path that runs from the ground floor all the way up to the 10th floor penthouses. To enhance the greenery of its surroundings, 8 House has terrace gardens that run alongside it. Additionally, it has internal courtyards created by the two loops from the “8” formation. These patches of nature are communal areas for the residents to enjoy. 8 House is an example of what is known as architectural alchemy, the idea that by mixing different types of traditional materials and styles, you can create an added value.

3 Residential Danish Sites For Architecture Fans – Bottom Line
If you’re an architecture fan, you have to put Denmark on your bucket list. The country has so many incredible architectural features and buildings that span much more than the 5 listed above. It is truly an incredible country to visit.

3 Residential Danish Sites For Architecture Fans, is written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Miles P. Murray. As a tech enthusiast and avid blogger, Miles explores the latest technology trends and gadgets. His mission is to help everyday consumers navigate the complicated, sometimes scary, but mostly exhilarating world of tech.

Feature image (on top) : Interior from the Wave © Henning Larsen Architect.

The Incredible Sound of Iconic Danish Singer/Songwriter

Denmark
Fine arts/music

Tor Kjølberg

July 13, 2021

The Incredible Sound of Iconic Danish Singer/Songwriter

Danish singer/songwriter and pianist Agnes Obel (b. 1980) debuted with her album Philharmonics in 2010. It was certified gold the following year (June 2011). Her follow-up took three years to make in a Berlin home studio. Luckely, it was a beauty. Read more about the incredible sound of iconic Danish singer/songwriter.

Her second album, Aventine, was made the same way as her first one: in her home studio in Berlin. “I did it first time round because I had no money and no label,” said Obel. “But I realized it worked for me. I can write words and immediately record them, which brings a freshness to it. It gives me freedom.”

School drop-out
Agnes Obel was born in Copenhagen and she and her younger brother, Holger, grew up in an unconventional environment, with a father who had three children from another marriage. He loved to collect strange objects and instruments. Her mother, Katja Obel, was a solicitor and musician and she used to play Bartók and Chopin on the piano at home. Obel took up piano playing at the age of six.

Despite plenty of creative freedom at school, Agnes dropped out before finishing and joined a program for younger, troubled kids who wanted to become record producers. She was soon studying classical piano, though she went off-piste when she became obsessed with Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson. She joined a band at 11, and part of her teens was spent playing bass and singing in a band that played the Beatles and Prince covers at children festivals. About her learning, she said: “I had a classical piano teacher who told me that I shouldn’t play what I didn’t like. So, I just played what I liked. I was never forced to play anything else. The music chose me.”

Obel studied music production and her DIY production is exquisite, with her arrangements of strings, piano and a single cello creating a beautiful, melancholic sound under her delicate vocal. The British newspaper The Guardian called Aventine a “wonderful autumn album…exceedingly good at conveying weariness and disorientation through sound.”

Agnes sees music as an incredibly honest and transparent human experience. “Sometimes, I feel like musical experiences are more real than what we define as the real world.”

Studying sound techniques
Obel is used to doing things differently, and on her own terms. In 1994, she had a small part in the short film The Boy Who Walked Backwards (Drengen der gik baglæns) by Thomas Vinterberg. Her brother, Holger Thaarup, played the main character in the movie. Credited as Agnes Obel, she appeared in two scenes.

At 17, she met a man who was running a studio. She gave up her musical studies to learn sound techniques. It was then that Obel fell in love with the idea of sculpting her own sounds.

She moved to Berlin in 2006, but although she lives in Berlin, her Scandinavian roots shine through in many of her songs and mannerisms. “On my first visit to Berlin I realized I had found a special place with a weird vibe,” she says. “I visited all sorts of strange places, like restaurants where you could play what you liked for the food, or nothing if you didn’t like it. I was really intrigued. I went home and told everybody I’m going to move to Berlin”.

She bought a place in hip Kreuzberg and turned part of it into a studio. “I feel less tied down here. It’s easier to pursue what I want.” That means a process of recording she admits is “obsessive”. She calls recording as “being on my little island. I like to just forget time.” The implication is that she’s more comfortable there than on stage. “I still get stage fright playing on my own. it’s very personal: I have to work to let go.”

You might also like to read: Nightlife in Copenhagen

The Incredible Sound of Iconic Danish Singer/Songwriter . . . . read on

Poetic way with words
She lives with photographer and animation artist Alex Brüel Flagstad, who filmed and directed the music videos for “Riverside” from Obel’s debut album Philharmonics (2010), and “Dorian”, “The Curse”, and “Aventine” from Aventine (2013).

Aside from her incredible music, Obel is also well-known for her poetic way with words. Over the years, Agnes discovered her inner musician, citing influences like Claude Debussy and PJ Harvey as inspiration sources. She was obsessed with artists capable of creating dramatic landscapes with music.

In February 2018, Obel was signed to Deutsche Grammophon. The contract involved Deutsche Grammophon joining forces with Blue Note for North American releases. Mr Trautmann, president of Deutsche Grammophon, said: “We are fascinated by Agnes’s compositional autonomy and the precision with which she creates and produces her vocal and instrumental soundscapes. With every song and instrumental piece, she opens up small universes, thus reaching a broad audience with sophisticated works. With Agnes we share confidence in the long-term success of artistic excellence and credibility, as well as the intention to inspire many more fans around the world”.

New album – Myopia
In January 2020, DJ APREL released a dubstep remix of the famous song “Riverside” with Agnes Obel, and later, she released her fourth full-length album, entirely self-recorded: Myopia. “The entire album inhabits that desolate place of twilight solitude, and forces its listener into a mode of introspection. It’s a record to experience alone. (…) There’s a comfort to being pulled into Myopia’s contemplative, isolating territory,” wrote Elisa Bray in The Independent

“For me Myopia is an album about trust and doubt. Can you trust yourself or not? Can you trust your own judgments? Can you trust that you will do the right thing? Can you trust your instincts and what you are feeling? Or are your feelings skewed?” asks Obel.

Luckily for us, Agnes Obel doesn’t have to answer to anyone.

The Incredible Sound of Iconic Danish Singer/Songwriter, written by Tor Kjolberg

All images © Agnes Obel

The Startup Kingdom: How Denmark Became an Entrepreneur’s Paradise

Business
Denmark

Tor Kjølberg

July 12, 2021

The Startup Kingdom: How Denmark Became an Entrepreneur’s Paradise

The venture capital market in Denmark is relatively young compared to other European countries, but the kingdom has made a strong leap forward over the past 20 years. Local startups compete with each other in attracting investment, and they do so quite fiercely. The article, The Startup Kingdom: How Denmark Became an Entrepreneur’s Paradise, will tell you how to enter the Danish market.

H2 Register a startup in 15 minutes? Easy!
The Danish government not only supports big companies, but also develops startups, encouraging entrepreneurs to generate new ideas, create innovative projects and jobs.

In Denmark it is possible to register your own company quickly and without start-up capital with just 1 kroner, and it is tax exempt until its working capital exceeds 50 thousand kroner.

A company can be registered online within 15 minutes by submitting an electronic application and filling in all the required documents.

The country’s government provides financial support to the most technologically advanced and innovative start-ups. Thus, assistance to companies over four years amounted to 128 million euros. The government’s initiative has also stimulated private investors, the amount of investment in startups has already exceeded the state 5 times.

By the way, Jean Hartley of custom writing service shared, that the Danish government appointed the world’s first “digital” ambassador of the Danish Foreign Ministry to interact with the world leaders of the IT-business, as the Danish government believes that the global IT-companies have become something like new countries and the state should respond accordingly.

The corporations themselves responded positively to the initiative. For example, IBM opens in Copenhagen a center for software development, and Apple and Facebook are building large data-centers in the country.

The corporations themselves responded positively to the initiative. For example, IBM is opening a software development center in Copenhagen, and Apple and Facebook are building large data centers in the country.

The interest of foreign corporations in Denmark is explained by:

A low tax rate of 22% for foreign investors;
Lower wage costs for employees;
Energy benefits from renewable energy sources.

H2 How does startup support work?
Acceleration support for startups does exist in Denmark, and it works quite effectively. The kingdom has a number of acceleration programs and industry startup incubators. As a rule, these programs and gas pedals are not graded by country.

If a startup fits into a certain program and is promising, it will definitely be supported.

Danish acceleration programs help foreign entrepreneurs with special startup visas, office rentals and housing.

Startups that qualify for the three-month acceleration program receive €15,000 each to live in, a free office, and exclusive contracts from Google, Amazon, HubSpot, and SendGrid – for an average of €450,000.

How Denmark became an Entrepreneur’s paradise, read on….

H2 Examples of Accelerators
Gas pedals and business incubators in Denmark consolidate the best startups and provide them with conditions for growth – a co-working area, the opportunity for close interaction with the startup community, business angels, large venture private and public funds, and the corporate sector not only in Denmark but also in other countries.

The most demanded clusters are in IT, FinTech, CleanTech, HealthCare, BioTech.

Founders House/Startup Village is an association of Scandinavian startups specializing in IT and high technology. Its residents are more than 100 innovative companies. A number of large Danish companies and organizations – Danske Bank and Nordea, NETS (mobile payment operator), Index Ventures – conduct regular workshops with the gas pedal residents and choose the best ones for cooperation.
Copenhagen FinTechLab is Scandinavia’s leading financial technology incubator. It brings together more than 40 fintech start-ups. The incubator provides residents with not only office space and consulting services, but also an opportunity to present their projects to investors in the global hubs of fintech: Silicon Valley, London, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and Singapore.
European Blockchain Center. The center could be called an incubator for IT training with a course in blockchain technology. It developed a training course for Harvard Business School. In addition to theory, it includes cases of integrating blockchain solutions into business processes, using Deutsche Bank as an example.

H2 What do you need to know before entering the Danish market?

Research the country;
Get the necessary certificates and permits;
Remember the Danish mentality.

The Danes are pragmatic and value their time, so during business negotiations focus on the main aspects – the economic benefits of the project, its features and advantages.

We recommend not to drag out negotiations for more than 45-50 minutes, be punctual and have qualified specialists in your staff who are able to professionally conduct a dialogue in English or the language of the host country.

The Startup Kingdom: How Denmark Became an Entrepreneur’s Paradise, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Jean Hartley. Jean is a professional writer for write my paper service. For 6 years now, she has been helping students learn to write correctly, and also assists in preparing for exams.

Feature image (on top) Photo by Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine

Accomodation
Norway

Tor Kjølberg

July 9, 2021

Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine

Refsnes Gods, less than an hour’s drive from Oslo, the capital of Norway, is impressively well maintained and facilitated for conferences, weddings, small groups and couples-only. The estate from the 1700s has been transformed into a hotel surrounded by a lush garden and a short walk down to the fjord with beach and moorings. At Refsnes Gods, you’ll experience majestic luxury, fascinating history and top-class food and wine.

It was David and Sophie Chrystie who built Refsnes Estate as a holiday home around 1767. The holiday home Refsnes became a hospitable home. In 1853, Consul Lorenz Meyer from Kristiania (now Oslo) bought the manor and spent every summer there. His family wanted more space and they solved it in an inventive way by building a three floors’ tower on each side of the building. So, it got more the impression of being a holiday castle than a holiday manor.

Hotel manager Kim Nyheim was appointed director in 2019, only few months before the hotel had to shut down due to the corona virus. He came from one of Norway’s very best hotels, Hotel Continental in Oslo, where he had held various leading positions.

He has his hotel management education from Swiss Hotel Management School and a certificate as a chef. He has worked throughout his career in the hotel and restaurant industry, both at home and abroad.

Nyheim tells us that guests as well as employees have been very understanding during the pandemic crises, and also after the reopening. Several adjustments are still in the pipeline.

Want to experience majestic luxury in Norway, read on.

Who for?
Refsnes Gods (translated ‘estate’ into English) is best suited for business meetings, weddings or couples with a healthy budget looking to escape city life and enjoy the countryside and the abundant number of fine art displayed all over the place. Even your room will be decorated by fine original Norwegian artworks. We stayed in the Håkon Bleken Suite. Other suites contain contemporary paintings by Frans Widerberg, Jacob Weidemann and Therese Nortvedt, just to mention a few. “Restaurant Munch” is obviously dedicated to Edvard Munch (1863-1944) with 6 original works.

Related: The Oldest Hotel in Norway

Accomodation
Enjoy all the comfort of one of the 61 rooms, all decorated with contemporary paintings and fine art. As if your very own art gallery was not enough, there’s also a lush garden where two pentaque lanes are ready for use. There’s no better way to experience majestic luxury in Norway.

The first thing you encounter when looking out from the hotel towards the garden and the sea is Nina Sundby’s bronze sculpture «Nora dances Tarantella». This sculpture was on a world tour in 2006 celebrating that it was 100 years since the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) died.

A few years ago, the hotel built its own pavilion in the garden, so that guests once again could experience sociability outside the main house itself. Today’s pavilion has no seasonal restrictions and is also used as the hotel’s breakfast restaurant. On pleasant summer days guests can enjoy their food and a glass under the open sky.

Probably my favorite castle feature was the terrace outside our suite, where I could sprawl out and watch the colorful fjord sunset with a glass of fizz and a stonking good book.

Facilities
“The Munch Restaurant” displays 6 original works by the iconic Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944). The menu is based on fresh and seasonable ingredients. The philosophy is to make as much as possible from scratch. Juices, sauces, soups, bread, desserts and chocolate confectionery. The presentation of the meals is also important. It should be innovative, but at the same time recognizable.

During our stay we really enjoyed the scallops, fish of the season, duck and the hotel’s opera cake.

Both the surroundings and content make the wine cellar at Refsnes Gods unique in a Norwegian context. Here are thick brick walls and roof vaults from the 18th century, and a wine selection that is one of the largest in Norway. There you can also view the basement’s unique collection of Mouton-Rothshild wines.

In 1945, the winery introduced art-labels to mark the liberation of France, a tradition that the world-famous wine producer fortunately has continued to this day. From 1945 to 2000, Refsnes Gods bought one bottle of each vintage – a total of 56 vintages – which are now displayed behind a glass wall for the enjoyment of guests who taste wines in the cellar. The labels are adorned by artists such as Chagall, Picasso, Miro and Andy Warhol. If you want to experience majestic luxury in Norway, you’ve come to rhe right place!

Refsnes gods is a part of Classic Norway Hotels

How much?

From NOK 1,700 (USD 195) for a double room in peak season.

What’s Nearby?

Refsnes Gods is beautifully located on Jeløya in the Oslo fjord. Spend some time on the island of Jeløya, which is known as “the Pearl of the Oslo fjord” because of its beautiful landscape, beaches and tracks. Walk the Coastal trail (Kyststien) from Framnes to Alby and experience the breathtaking scenery. The coastal trail makes up 25 km of connected trails and rounds.

Alby gård is the oldest farm in Jeløy and has roots all the way back to the Viking age. The current building has been like this since a big fire in 1866. The farm has been open to the public since 1963. At the café you should taste the Alby Kringle (pretzel) which you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Galleri F15 at Alby is a very interesting gallery exhibiting contemporary artists from around the world. Some of the artworks can be very bizarre and engaging.

Galleri Varden is another gallery in Jeløy that exhibits well-known Norwegian visual artists like Ari Behn and Pushwagner. Gallery Varden is only open during the weekends.

TIP: For a memorable summer evening with a twist, take a sunset dip at the Tronvik lake where there’s a diving club. Walk up the beautiful trail that leads you to Tronvik woods where you have a wonderful view of the Oslo fjord. You can see all the way to Oslo.

Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine, written by Tor Kjolberg.

Scandinavian Monthly is Getting Attention

Business
Norway

Tor Kjølberg

July 8, 2021

Scandinavian Monthly is Getting Attention

We absolutely love when people love our content so we were beyond honored to be awarded the 2021 Global Choice Award as the most promising Travel & Tourist Magazine of the year by Xel Research, India. Almost simultaneously we go a call from England, announcing that we had won the prize Best Travel Guide of the Year from Corporate Live Wire. No doubt about it, after the launch in May, Scandinavian Monthly is indeed getting attention.

The letter informing us that we will receive the Global Choice award has simply overwhelmed me. It is with deep gratitude that I accept the honor. We were also beyond honored to be contacted by Corporate Live Wire, announcing that we’ve been awarded the Prestige Award of the year. “The judges were impressed with your personal touch, consistency of reviews and community feel. The passion for what you do really comes across and I hope this achievement brings more success in 2021,” said Rocky Singh at CLW.

We’re not going to hide it. We’re pretty excited about our new magazine. Our aim is to give our readers information on new travel destinations, the latest in fashion, music and food & drink etc. Columns emphasizing on business, people, design and much more will hopefully over time make SCANDINAVIAN monthly one of the most read Scandinavian magazines out there.

“At first, I thought that this magazine would be like the other basic travel magazines. However, I was proved wrong when I read the magazine and realized how great they had covered aspects from providing advice on best hotels to the history of astonishing landscapes in Scandinavian countries,” wrote Richard Foster, one of our new subscribers.

The Corporate LiveWire platform provides business professionals and individuals in the corporate sector with information on the latest news and developments from around the globe. The Prestige Awards celebrates small and medium-sized enterprises consisting of localized businesses and sole traders, excelling in their market.

Due to the pandemic the award celebration will take place in Bristol later this year.

Xel Research (A unit of Xel Research Media Pvt. Ltd.) is a Market Research and Brand Consultancy and one of the leading companies in India. As the name suggests, the company creates iconic brands by use of a unique blend of insights, innovation, market research strategy, design, and analytic skills.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones excited about our new magazine. Watch for awards and notable mentions for both Daily Scandinavian and the Scandinavian Monthly Magazine. We promise to do our best to receive such acclaim by continuously sharing informative, entertaining and useful insights about Scandinavian destinations, attractions and issues

A humble thank you to the above-mentioned research companies and our faithful readers.

Not a subscriber yet? You can subscribe here. It’s FREE!

Tor Kjolberg, Editor-in-Chief.

Norway’s New Oil?

Business
Norway

Tor Kjølberg

July 7, 2021

Norway has discovered a huge deposit of critical raw materials. Will this be Norway’s new oil? It might make the EU less dependent on China and Russia with regard to the bloc’s energy transition.

An incredible 70 billion tons of phosphorus lie underground in the county of Rogaland in southwest-Norway, and the company NorgeMining digs for minerals worth several hundred billion Norwegian kroner.

The biggest deposit of its kind globally
The Anglo-Norwegian mineral exploration company Norge Mining plc has a clear vision: to become a global leader in sourcing and developing valuable minerals using modern and sensitive mining methods. Now, the company claims to have discovered the biggest deposit of its kind globally, which could produce 70 billion to 80 billion tons of ore-containing material. In 2018, Norway was not even on the list of the world’s largest phosphate reserves.

In the valleys of the south-west, surrounded by birch trees, towering mountains and yellow-green plains, geologists are looking for Norway’s new green oil. For the time being, however, there are greater costs than gains. But according to the company, investigations so far indicates that Norway is sitting on large, untapped mineral deposits, and it focuses on three high worldwide demand resources: vanadium, phosphates and titanium.

The Storeknuten Mineral Resource
The Storeknuten Mineral Resource covers an area of about 400 000 m2, which represents approximately 15% of the Høyland Exploration Area. After backing from Swiss and German investors, Norge Mining was founded in the UK in 2018.

Ever since King Fredrik found copper in Telemark in 1524, mining has left open wounds in the landscape. But the mines created large incomes and jobs for hundreds of years, but few are active today, and since the late 1960s, North Sea oil has contributed to making Norway a prosperous nation.

According to NorgeMining, innovation and state-of-the-art technology will minimize any environmental impact and at the same time contribute to a more sustainable global future. Storeknuten is the company’s second world-class resource of EU critical raw materials, defined as materials of strategic importance for the European economy that the EU currently imports.

Phosphorus, vanadium and titanium
Publication of the Storeknuten MRE follows publication in February this year of the maiden MRE at Øygrei, a world-class deposit of 1.55 billion tons which is currently being extended and upgraded. Besides phosphates, two other important minerals were found: vanadium and titanium. Vanadium is tipped to become the most important raw material of the future. About a tenth of all globally mined vanadium is currently used to produce high-performance batteries that store renewable energy.

Phosphorus is used in fertilizers, and we depend on this element to be able to feed a growing population. Today, Western Sahara, which is illegally occupied by Morocco, sits on the largest reserves in the world. At the same time, demand is expected to rise sharply over the next thirty years. All this makes industrial food production vulnerable. And despite great efforts, no large deposits of the valuable, non-renewable substance have been found – until now.

Development in an area four times the size of Paris
Securing a stable, domestic region for developing these much-needed resources is not just the company’s vision; the European Union has officially named vanadium, phosphates and titanium as ‘Critical Raw Materials’ (2020). That means they’re economically and strategically important for European economies, but have a high supply risk.

John Vergopoulos, CEO of Norge Mining, said: “This MRE confirms Storeknuten as our second world-class deposit, further highlighting the potential of the Bjerkreim Exploration Project as a whole. In addition to 240 million tons of inferred mineral resource at Storeknuten, SRK has also reported a very substantial Exploration Target of between 1.4 and 2 billion tons.”

Norge Mining says it has since secured six licenses for the development of an area four times the size of Paris, some 420 square kilometers (261 square miles). In 2012, the Geological Survey of Norway put the value of the deposit at some €30 billion ($36.4 billion). However, that estimate assumed the ore deposit would have a depth of just 100 meters.

Norway’s new oil?
The founder of Norge Mining, Michael Wurmser adds, “Research has shown that we can run out of phosphorus. And now geological surveys show that there are over 70 billion tons in Eigersund. It’s totally crazy. It’s the world’s largest occurrence, and it’s only with surveys down to 1500 meters. The number is probably much larger».

Norway’s New Oil? written by Tor Kjolberg

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Exploring Scandinavia

Stories Made to Stick

Scandinavian Explorers

Exploring Scandinavia

Scandinavian Explorers

Stories Made to Stick

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Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine

Scandinavian Monthly is Getting Attention

Norway’s New Oil?