This was once the archive of Denmark’s radio at Iceland brygge. When the archive moved out, the 25,900 sq m building stood empty for a while before a group of artists and musicians moved in and created studios and a nightclub. Today, you can feel at home in a Copenhagen design apartment hotel.
This design hotel is found in Copenhagen’s harbor area, 2.5 km from central Copenhagen. It offers a large rooftop terrace with panoramic views, free Wi-Fi and gym access, and spacious apartments with balconies. STAY Copenhagen is a converted industry building from the mid 1900s and features Scandinavian minimalist design. Why stay in a small hotel room when you can have a spacious, serviced apartment or loft for the same price?
Originally, it was intended to be an apartment building, but when the developer finally started the process in 2006, there was no longer a market for it in Copenhagen.
Stay is now an apartment design hotel located on the Island Brygge, a fast developing residential area, just a five minutes’ drive from the center of Copenhagen. And a stone’s throw from the buzzy meat packing district.
The smallest apartment is 70 square meters, the largest 180, and you can rent from one day to three years. Most have balconies or terraces, and all are furnished by the Danish design company Hay.
The smallest apartment is 70 square meters, the largest 180.
The bright apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and dryer, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Located on the 7th floor, the SKY Lounge is a popular meeting place for evening cocktails or a glass of wine.
Although all the rooms have a kitchen, guests are served free breakfast downstairs or can meet in the evening in the lounge upstairs while having a glass of wine with amazing views over Copenhagen.
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Related: On Copenhagen’s Amager Island
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Stay is now an apartment design hotel located on the Island Brygge. Photo: David de Vleeschauwer/Stay Copenhagen
In a way, it works like a regular hotel where you pick up your key at reception. At the same time, it is more like home. There is a laundry room in the basement, glasses in the cupboards and cutlery in the drawers. The idea is that you should be able to move right in.
Guests wishing to explore the surroundings can rent a bicycle in the reception or take a relaxing walk in the Amager Fælled Nature Reserve, only 200 meters away. STAY Copenhagen is within 10 minutes’ walk of Dybbølsbro Station. Free indoor parking is available on site.
You can still find traces of this creative past in some of the apartments in the form of writing on the concrete walls or small splashes of color in the black & white interiors.
Room prices start at approximately 120 euro for an apartment, breakfast for two included.
Feel at Home in a Copenhagen Design Apartment Hotel, written by Tor Kjolberg
Autumn is the season of wonders in Norway. The landscape turns red and yellow, it’s when the Northern lights return, the forests abound with berries, mushrooms and game – and it’s the perfect time to snuggle up under a warm blanket when it’s raining.
Let’s make a journey together in the diverse landscapes in Norway from cruising the fjords to hiking in beautiful mountain trails, from seaside hiking to foraging mushrooms in the forests or berries by the lakes.
Mountain hikes
One very popular autumn activity is to go for a hike in the mountains and marvel at the sight of the heather, which changes into a vivid red, yellow and orange. Public transport takes you to great destinations for both biking and hiking. In some places, you can even catch a ride with a gondola to the top.
Historical lighthouses
Vippefyret
Tjøme municipality is located on islands between the Tønsbergfjorden and the Ytre Oslofjord. The southern tip is called Verdens ende (‘the end of the world’) and is probably best known for ‘Vippefyret’ – the lighthouse, made by stones from the local beaches. The lighthouse is a replica built in 1932.
Færder National Park Verdens Ende is located in Færder National Park, which is one of the country’s most important areas for coastal outdoor activities. The national park covers 340 square kilometers of mainland, islands, reefs and seabed in Færder municipality. It stretches from Ormøy in the north to Færder lighthouse in the south.
Vippefyret, Tjøme. Photo: Wikipedua
Ryvingen lighthouse
Ryvingen lighthouse is located on an island 7 km southeast of Mandal. In addition to being the visible landmark for ship traffic that passes the southern tip of Norway, Ryvingen lighthouse together with Hatholmen lighthouse and lantern “Bestemor” on Sjøsanden, is the entry lighthouse to the ports of Mandal. The first lighthouse was lit on October 20, 1867. In 1897, today’s cast-iron lighthouse was completed. The lighthouse lens was the second strongest in the world, at that time, and it is the same lens that is in use today. At most, there were around 30 people living at the station, and it was a school for children who grew up here. In 1957, Ryvingen lighthouse became a shift station and the families of the lighthouse keepers lived on mainland. Until the lighthouse was automated in 2002, the lighthouse keepers lived on land and commuted to the work on the island.
The Flåm Railway The Flåm Railway is one of Norway’a most famous train lines, described simply as ‘pandemonium’. In autumn, often only a handful of people are traveling, so you can almost have the iconic spot all to yourself for some time.
Lonely Planet is not alone in naming the Bergen Railway Line as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. However, Norway has several other breathtaking stretches to travel by train, such as the Rauma Line and the Nordland Line. As autumn marches on, you are bound to drift along past a wide variety of seasonal beauty.
The Flåm railway. Photo: flamsbana.no
Storm watching
On the edge of the rocky terrains on Frøya, west of Kalvåg, you can visit the stormwatching cabin Dosabu. It has panoramic views to the great sea and the placement is carefully planned in the terrain. The cabin is open to everyone and Bremanger is a paradise to sea eagles. You can bring your own food and drink and enjoy a violent storm or a beautiful sunset while sitting warm and cozy inside.
Fjord tours
Lysefjord
The Lysefjord offers some of the world’s most iconic hikes. The classics Pulpit Rock, Kjerag and Flørli are most known, but the 42 km long Lysefjord is also home to a wide range of other more off the beaten track hikes, all with great vistas.
Pulpit Rock juts out over Lysefjord and provided the backdrop for the climatic fight scene in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. During the summer, 6,000-7,000 people a day hike the 2.5 miles each way to the lookout.
In autumn, visitor numbers are low, and in the western part of the fjord, hiking is possible most time of the year. Gorgeous coastal routes is offered by Fjord Line.
An island full of history
The island of Årøyholmen is an about 15 minutes boat ride from Koppangen Brygge on the western side of the Lyngenfjord in the heart of the Lyngen Alps.The island has probably been inhabited since the iron age, and yopu’ll find war memories and bear graves here.
Koppangen brygge has appartments for rent with private bath rooms and outdoor hot tubs.
There is no kitchen, so all the meals have to be pre-booked in the restaurant on the second floor in the main building. The restaurant serves locally produced food from Lyngen, as far as possible.
Fjord tours
Romance by the fjord Breathe in. breathe out. Feel the bustle of summer shift to the tranquillity of autumn. Want to stay at a magnificent, historical timber hotel? Getting a room is a lot easier as we drift into this time of year. Hike along the fjords and observe how the majestic landscape changes colour and pulse, while feeling the pull and push of the forces of nature. Inclement weather also has the power to bring people together to stay warm.
Cheesemaking in Lofoten
Lofoten Gårdsysteri, a farm and cheese factory in a fabulous location between fjord and mountains at Saupstad on the north of Vestvågøy, on the road to Unstad is the perfect place to experience the artisanal cheese-making process. The farm has goats, pigs and chicken and offers mini courses and workshops and cheese tasting.
If you are going on a mountain trip or beach visit, they are happy to make a fresh lunch for you!
Lofoten gardsysteri. Photo: Visit Lofoten
Northern lights and whale safaris
Winter is not the only time of year you can see the northern lights. The intensity of this staggering natural light show is enough to leave anyone speechless. Up north, autumn is also ideal for whale spotting; species include humpback whales and orcas. If you are travelling with Hurtigruten, you get northern lights tours and whale safaris included. Vesterålen, Senja, Alta and Tromsø are all superb destinations in which to experience whales and northern lights.
Whale safari. Photo: Visit Norway
Sightings of the aurora borealis can happen in Norway from late August through March. Above the Arctic Circle, the days constrict quickly in autumn, going from seven hours of sunlight early in November to just two and a half by the end. What those numbers obscure is the quality of that light – with the sun always low on the horizon and high clouds often adding texture, it’s nearly impossible to take a bad photo – and the additional periods of dawn and dusk when you can still be exploring outdoors.
Nusfjord Arctic Resort
Authentic fishing village
Nusfjord was once part of Norway’s leading fish buying stations and has an intertwining building area, which evolved at the end of the 19th-Century and the beginning of the 20th-Century. Today, Nusfjord Arctic Resort offers traditional rorbu cabins for lodging in authentic surroundings. To get there you leave the main Federal Highway 10, halfway between Napp and Ramberg. Then, for the next 6 kilometres the county road winds through a beautiful and dramatic landscape.
Cultural autumn
Autumn is the perfect season for new arts and culture experiences. Make the most of it by visiting the best art museums and galleries in Norway. Head to the MUNCH museum, or the National Gallery, the biggest art museum in the Nordic countries, and experience the fabulous sculpture parks dressed in autumn colors. There are also excellent museums for arts, history, and natural history in Bergen, Stavanger, Tromsø and many other places (not to mention film festivals and live music).
Akershus forress, Oslo. Photo: Cato Hansen/Oslo kommune
Oslo’s many museums are ideal sanctuaries on short, chilly days. Explore the city by hopscotching from one toasty museum to the next. You can experience multiple iterations of Edvard Munch’s The Scream, the study in which Henrik Ibsen wrote his last play, and secret messages circulated by the Norwegian resistance during World War II. Don’t miss the Kon Tiki Museum which displays the original bamboo-and-balsa vessel Kon-Tiki raft which Thor Heyerdahl built in 1947 and then successfully sailed it from South America to Polynesia.
Big cities with small town charm
Even though Oslo is often listed among the top cities in the world to visit, there are several other smaller cities that are also worth your time. Despite their smaller size, cities such as Bergen and Ålesund are sure to provide you with grand – and unique – adventures.
Ålesund. Photo: Wikipedia
Relaxing
Nothing can compare to the joy of snuggling up under a warm blanket in a cozy cabin after some days of exciting activities. As the evenings grow darker, autumn is the perfect time for candlelight and the relaxing sound of a crackling fireplace, perhaps while enjoying a good book or spending time with someone special.
Do you usually cram in too much when you travel? If your answer Is yes, you’ll probably appreciate the dark morning and afternoon hours of Norway’s off-season. It will force you to slow down both body and brain. It may help you to understand the Norwegian way of life. It may make room in the day for your family to play board games, stoke a fire in your cabin’s fireplace, or relax together in a hot tub.
Stranda Hotel. Photo: RAW Reklame og Foto
It’s true that the tourist season slows down as summer draws to a close. But for the clever tourist, the off-season is a perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with Norway’s famous destinations without the crowds.
I use Expedia for booking hotels plain and simple. While you can use many of the other apps available for researching and booking hotels, Expedia’s customer service is the most helpful and the website and app functionality are easy to navigate. But even if you are an Expedia expert, there are some tips and tricks that can help land you the best deal on travel accommodation. Find out more about these hotel booking secrets.
1. Don’t stick to one booking site.
Although I am an Expedia supporter, I use several comparison websites to get a feel for pricing in the area I’m looking to stay. When I feel I have a clear picture, I go to Expedia. Their customer service team has helped me negotiate refunds and gotten me out of some sticky situations while traveling abroad. They also allow you to accrue points that you can use for discounts on hotels.
2. Use filters
I begin with setting a filter to eliminate any hotel I would not choose to stay in. I do not need a five star hotel, but in order to keep a minimum standard, be sure to check ‘air conditioning’ and ‘free WiFi’ in the filter as that will eliminate most of the less-desirable hotels right away. You can use many other filters to find a hotel to your personal liking. Other popular filters include price range, guest rating, property type (hotel, apartment, hostel, bed and breakfast, etc.) neighborhood, pet friendly, ocean view and many more.
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Related: Reduce Your Flight Costs with Google Flights
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3. Do undercover searches
Your digital footprint can work against you when it comes to booking accommodation. Some sites can recognize what you’ve been searching and change their prices for areas and hotels that you’re interested in.
It’s called dynamic pricing or personal price hikes, and it’s allegedly a common online marketing method. It seems unfair and a little creepy, but it happens.
The best way to beat them at their own game is to use ‘incognito’ mode when you’re searching so they can’t track you.
You can also use different browsers and clear your cookies when you’re cross-checking prices to make sure you’re looking at the best price possible, not one that’s tailor-made based on your search history.
Photo: WEikipedia
4. Avoid hostels
Hostels can run as low as $10 per night, but that is usually in a non-private room with bunk beds, which leaves your belongings vulnerable to thieves. Some hostels offer private room options for a higher price (usually $25 per night depending upon location). The room is very small, but if all you are doing is sleeping there, the size of the room does not matter. I have seen decent hotel rooms in the $30-$60 per night range in many locations. In some parts of the world (usually Western Europe), you will not be able to find non-hostel hotels for less than $100 per night, so sharing a room with your travel companion is a good way to keep this cost down.
4. Book in advance
Making hotel bookings in advance can often help you save money. Many hotels offer early bird discounts for bookings made months in advance, meaning you can grab a great room at a great rate.
However, these bookings are often non-refundable and offer no flexibility. It’s essential that you’re 100% sure of your travel dates, otherwise you risk making a booking that you can’t change or cancel without losing money.
It’s a common misconception that waiting to make a last-minute booking will save you money. While this is true in some cases, it’s also risky and can result in overspending if traveling during busy periods or high-demand events. For example, if a high-profile performer announces a concert in the same location you’re planning your getaway—you can expect prices to skyrocket.
5. Be flexible where possible
If you have a time-constrained event that you need a hotel room for, skip to the next tip – this one’s not for you. However, if you can afford some flexibility for when you travel, you’ll likely find considerable price differences only a couple of days apart.
Weekends are typically most expensive in many tourist destinations, and special events and holiday periods also see higher hotel room rates than normal. The increased demand enables hotels to raise their prices, as people are still willing to pay out of necessity.
6. Find a good location
I prefer to get a hotel that is close to the action or at least close to some cafes and restaurants so I can step out the front door and walk to a good spot without having to take a taxi every time. To do this, find a good location near any hotspots in the city using TripAdvisor, which is a website/mobile application not only for finding fun things to do but also booking tours, hotels and flights. As you may have learned in my article How I use TripAdvisor for Booking Tours, TripAdvisor has a function in which you can indicate your destination and research attractions that interest you in that location. First, go to TripAdvisor and type in the name of the city. Click on “things to do”. On the left side of the page is located a list of attractions by type. I usually click on the first option, which is ‘sights and landmarks’ and then click ‘view map’ on the right side of the page so I can see where the concentrations of these landmarks are located. I may even use this same procedure to find any hotspots in a particular city.
I will give you more tips and tricks in Hotel Booking Secrets – Part 2 which will be published in October.
Hotel Booking Secrets – Part 1, compiled by Tor Kjolberg
On pleasant summer days in Norway, the eternal daylight stretches one day into another. It’s easy to forget what time it actually is. Here we explore the best places to experience the midnight sun in Norway.
In wintertime visitors flock to Northern Norway hunting for the Northern lights. In summertime, people are enjoying the soft golden midnight sun. Northern Norway is often referred to as ‘the land of the midnight sun’.
Locals are accustomed to this excess of light, while visitors often say they’re jetlagged and experience sleep disturbances. Artists from all over the world, and in particular Norwegian artists, are fascinated by these long days.
From Trana. Photo: Kristoffer Mollevik/Visit Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is south of the Arctic Circle, so the time of the year you can experience the midnight sun here varies depending on where in Helgeland you are, but overall the area enjoy the midnight sun from 12 June through 10 July. However, during the weeks before this, from mid-May until mid-August, even when the sun does sink below the horizon, it is still bright all night!
Photo: Ernst Furuhatt/Visit Bodø
Bodø
The beautiful coastal town Bodø is the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle. “It is hard to explain. It’s light all day and all night, but the sounds and atmosphere tell us when it’s nighttime. The animals and birds know it too. We call it “The infinite Nordland nights”. You simply have to experience it to understand!” (from Visit Bodo’s website).
Lofoten – Trollfjord
To be taken by boat around the Lofoten Islands, to places where you may see seals or whales, eagles and sea-birds, is a special experience. You will venture between the narrow, steep walls of Trollfjord, with its white sand beaches and fishers’ villages.
In summer, when the sun doesn’t dip below the horizon, you will never forget the adventure. The reason this happens is because the northern hemisphere is tipped toward the sun, resulting in longer days and warmer weather. Destinations close to and north of the Arctic Circle get the midnight sun. The further north of the Arctic Circle you go, the longer is the period it lasts for.
Photo: Visit Lofoten
Lofoten – Svolvær
Svolvær, at the heart of the scenic Lofoten archipelago, is sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, Svolvær is an iconic destination for those wanting to experience the midnight sun during the summer months.
Vesterålen
Experience the midnight sun from the sea. The beautiful landscape of Vesterålen, the sea, it´s creatures and the midnight sun will be a memory of a lifetime.
Honningsvåg
Honningsvåg is home to the North Cape, where a globe monument marks the top of continental Europe. Why not enjoy the midnight sun on a birdwatching safari, departing from the fishing village of Gjesvær? From there you can explore the nearby islands of Gjesværstappan.
Tromsø
Tromsø is within the Arctic Circle, so it’s the perfect spot for midnight sun seekers.
This energetic university town really comes alive during the summer months. You can dance your socks off at Bukta Festival, held during the height of midsummer, or consider running the Midnight Sun Marathon.
To see the midnight sun in all its glory, take the Fjellheisen cable car up to Storsteinen mountain ledge. You’ll look out onto a landscape of fjords and mountains bathed in golden light.
Photo: Sommarøy Arctic Hotel
Sommarøy
Sommerøy translates to ‘Summer Island’. In 2019, the 300 inhabitants there made a publicity campaign on Facebook to become a time-free zone, due to the 70 days of midnight sun it experiences every year.
“If we want to cut the grass at midnight we will. If we want to take a swim at 4AM we will,” the campaign video stated.
Photo: Visit Hammerfest
Hammerfest
Hammerfest is the perfect city to visit if you want to experience the midnight sun! From 16 May to 29 July, you can experience the midnight sun, and it is light all day. In autumn it gradually gets darker and darker.
Cape Nordkinn
Cape Nordkinn,also known as Kinnarodden, is the northernmost point on the European mainland. It should not be confused with the North Cape, a spot often mislabeled as being Europe’s northernmost point, which is far more touristy. Cape Nordkinn, however, is a rugged, stony landscape with sweeping views of the Barents Sea.
Experienced hikers can take one of the hiking trails from Mehamn or Sandfjordvannene out to the Cape, where you’ll be rewarded with a view of the midnight sun suspended just above the horizon.
Photo: Visit Alta
Alta – Finnmark
In the heart of Northen Norway, between the majestic mountains, the beautiful Altafjord, and the legendary Finnmarksvidda lies Alta, the city of Midnight Sun. An unspoiled, lush arctic environment within a short distance from the bustle of the city, just waiting to be discovered.
Photo: Visit Svalbard
Svalbard
This remote Norwegian archipelago is located in between mainland Norway and the North Pole; its main town, Longyearbyen, is the world’s northernmost settlement. In these high latitudes, you’ll experience twenty four hour daylight for the entirety of the summer months.
There are plenty of wild adventures you can enjoy under the midnight sun on Svalbard. We’d recommend a glacier hike or a Svalbard kayak tour across fjords studded with icebergs. It’s a legal requirement to have a member of your party bearing arms, to guard against the threat of polar bears. For this reason, taking a guided Svalbard glacier tour is highly recommended!
Best Places to Experience the Midnight Sun in Norway – Conclusion
The Midnight Sun is not just beautiful to look at – it is also beautiful to feel. The warm feeling of the sun at midnight is something special, a feeling that will stay with you and serve as a warm memory for a long time.
Best Places to Experience the Midnight Sun in Norway, compiled by Tor KJolberg
In bygone times, many Scandinavian households had wood-fired outdoor stone or brick ovens, often built a bit away from the house, as the risk of fire was alarming in old wooden houses. Read on and learn more about traditional Scandinavian wood-fired bake ovens.
These outdoor ovens worked on the same principle: the wood was burnt to embers directly on the oven floor and pushed aside when the oven was thoroughly hot. You then baked on the hearth, as long as you wanted keeping a small fire going in the back. (On estates and at vicarages, the ovens were built as a separate bakehouse, where less fortunate parishioners could bring their loaves and flatbreads to bake.
Man has been baking bread in ovens like these for millennia, and they produce the best, crisped and most flavored bread – there is no comparison with anything baked in a modern oven. Often the fumes are scented with ling, or dried leaves, adding even more flavor.
Since ancient times, bread has also been baked in earth ovens, and still is in some parts of the world. In principle, this is a hole in the ground, clad with flat stones, and with a dome on top supported by wicker and clay. A colleague of mine said that the best bread she had ever baked was in such an oven built in the Danish Antiquity center in Lejre, south of Copenhagen, where they have recreated a village from every age since the Stone Age. She was teaching Viking cooking in an enormous cauldron on an open fire to feed the museum guests. Bones from all kinds of domestic animals and bunches of herbs were protruding from the surface and down in the soup were cabbages, parsnips, water mint, caraway and bread beans. The bread was made from emmer and sourdough and wrapped in huge leaves to keep it from scorching on the hot stones.
From the Danish Antiquity center in Lejre
This type of oven was not necessarily used more than once a month – to heat a big oven was expensive – so the preferred breads were long-keeping, dense rye breads, wholegrain leaves and a huge assortment of crispbreads. They were baked from whatever was at hand – cheap rye and barley or maybe oats; nowadays the crispbread is usually baked from wheat and rye because we have lost the taste for the rougher cereals as we have become richer. The traditional breads are very good, though, and are returning to favor, as home bakeries are popping up like mushrooms after rain, all over Scandinavia.
Traditional earth oven. Photo: Wikipedia
When a large wood-fired oven is lit, the temperature is extremely high at first – ideal for crispbread and wheat breads. When the temperature drops, it’s time to bake the rye breads that need a longer time at a lower heat. Last come the small cakes, and sometimes an extra drying of the crispbread. The flatbread is either dry or soft and eaten like Middle Eastern breads, wrapped around smoked meats, Surströmming, jam or cheese.
Traditional Scandinavian Wood-Fired Bake Ovens, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Wood-fired oven at Egge Museum, North Trøndelag, Norway
Nestled among a cluster of several hundred windswept islands, amid the startlingly clear waters of the fjords of western Norway, lies the Fitjar Islands Foundry; an artisan soap maker and scent design company that bustles with the kind of activity one would never expect to find in such a remote location. The Norwegian soap maker Fitjar Island Foundry is inspired by seagulls, sea breeze and alchemy.
The shaving cream is sold to wet shaving enthusiasts worldwide. “I am particularly proud of the shaving cream, because it is so difficult to make,” says the founder of Fitjar Islands Foundry, Jorunn Hernes.
The Fitjar islands, carved by the passage of time and the harsh Nordic climate, are mostly uninhabited and isolated. Photo: Visit Norway
The Fitjar islands, carved by the passage of time and the harsh Nordic climate, are mostly uninhabited and isolated. Their vegetation is untamed, scarce and wildly poetic. It is impossible not to be seized by the wilderness of nature around here.
Fitjar Islands Foundry is now in the process to develop a modern production facility at Port Steingard at Kråko, Stord. Illustration: Snøhetta
Fitjar Islands Foundry is now in the process of developing a modern production facility at Port Steingard at Kråko, Stord. The production facility has a programmed space of approximately 400 m2 and a regulated total height of 10 meters. The building is planned at the harbor alongside a channel, and adjacent to the local brewery and restaurant ELØ – En Liten Øl (A Small Beer).
Founder Jorunn Hernes has received excellent reviews on the Internet
The present shop is, however, small and bright with shelves filled with shaving soaps such as Miklagard and Villmann, as well as regular bars of soap such as Folgefånn soap, Hulder soap and Coffee soap. But it is the online store that is the most important sales channel.
The biting cold wind here infuses the ever-changing landscape with a different scent dimension every moment. On a still winter morning, the breeze brings with it the coolness of the nearby glacier, flecked with undertones of the fresh spruce and juniper bushes that roam the islands. In the spring, the lilac-blooming heather adds its own sweet gentle notes.
The Fitjar Islands Production & Experience Facility, projected by Snøhetta, shall be an iconic building with an innovative and flexible layout. It will consist of both internal and external functions, such as picking and packaging area, storage, and production, but also a brand store, showroom, pop-up barber shop, and flexible meeting rooms.
Jorunn Hernes has received excellent reviews on the Internet, which is dedicated to shaving and soap. This is how the customer group grows. It also helps that more and more men are concerned with so-called wet shaving, and for this you need proper shaving soap or cream.
Founded on traditional soap manufacturing techniques and with exceptional attention to superior craftsmanship and quality, Fitjar Islands´s production embraces the importance of process in small-batch manufacturing. Wholeheartedly celebrating the beauty and humor of the little imperfections of an artisan method.
Fjellheim shaving soap
It all takes place in the Foundry at Fitjar, where each batch is carefully crafted and strictly controlled. Every Fitjar Islands product can be traced back to a real place and a real person, so customers know where they come from and how they are made.
Norwegian Soap Maker Inspired by Seagulls, Sea Breeze and Alchemy, written by Tor Kjolberg
Danes have design in their DNA. Professor Per H. Hansen’s masterly history of Danish modern furniture history 1930-2016 presents a refreshing perspective from a business historian who weaves together ideas about image, branding, and national identity to reposition the standard narrative of modern and thoughtful Danish furniture design.
Minimalistic
Scandinavian design has a spare elegance rooted in minimalist principles. Everything in the space is selected with care and serves a defined purpose. The resulting effect is calming—with the visual field free of clutter, the mind can focus on other things, making it easier to relax and unwind.
Kaja Möller for Fredericia Interiors
Scandinavian furniture designers have become famous all over the world, but Denmark has emerged as the standout leader in the region. Hansen’s book recasts the story of Danish furniture in terms of cultural entrepreneurship and explores how tastes and fashion were shaped by cultural brand narrative.
Neutrals never go out of style
Finn Juhl was the Scandinavian master of color. Bold designs are the focus of the room – drawing eyes from the minute people enter and demonstrating how a light background provides timeless support for colorful prints and patterns. Hansen’s comprehensive business history of the rise, fall, and rise again of Danish Modern design is for academics, design professionals, critics, and enthusiasts alike.
Z chair. Danish Modern
Functionalism
Scandinavian rooms traditionally run small, so the use of space is vital. Removing unnecessary items, and replacing them with pieces that have multiple uses, is key. “We understand design on so many levels in Denmark. It is so deeply rooted in us through everything we are exposed to, from the cycle lanes to the signage,” said Maria Bruun, one of the new and award-winning stars of Danish furniture design in an interview with the prestigious magazine Monocle.
Professor Per H. Hansen’s book on Danish modern furniture design sheds new light on what has become an internationally well-known phenomenon. While scholars and others have offered different explanations of Danish Modern’s success, Per H. Hansen’s great achievement is the combination of a number of approaches and his close reading of original sources.
Durability
Because of their simple, versatile design, Scandinavian furniture works with the space in which it finds itself, rather than against it. One visible magnification was the rise of furniture and homeware companies such as Hay, which brought high-quality Danish design in the high street in the 2000s (subsequently bought by a US furniture giant).
From the combination of business history, design history, material culture and sociology a new understanding of Danish Modern’s rise, decline and re-emergence as a cultural market category comes to light in Hansen’s book.
Living room with neutral colors, wood and candles from Nordic Nest
Cozy homeliness
Scandinavians choose items that align with their style, rather than chasing trends, which come and go. Danish ‘hygge’ is the perfect example of this. The shift to a more academic oriented design education might explain the simultaneous rise to prominence of the social sciences within design and architecture in Denmark.
Professor Per H. Hansen, book cover
“I have been a big fan of Danish modern furniture for many years. Then, one fateful day in the late 1990s, I decided to write about it from a perspective inspired by my professional background as an economic and business historian. Combining hobby and professional interest – passion and academic distance – proved a challenge and much harder than I envisioned. The first result was published in Danish in 2006 and ever since I have wanted to publish an English edition. Here it is, at last, in a thoroughly revised version, which, I believe, has benefited from my getting older and wiser, on Danish Modern anyway, in the decade that has passed,” writes Professor Per H. Hansen in the preface of the English version.
Sweden is a haven for berry lovers, offering an abundance of wild berries that grow naturally across its forests and rural landscapes. Read on and learn more about berry picking in Sweden.
Some of the most common berries you can find are:
Blueberries (Blåbär): A popular berry found in Sweden’s pine forests. They thrive in acidic soils and are usually abundant from July to September.
Lingonberries (Lingon): These tart, red berries are iconic in Swedish cuisine, commonly found in the northern part of Sweden they thrive in pine forests and open woodlands. They ripen from late August to October.
Cloudberries (Hjortron): A rare and highly prized berry, cloudberries are mainly found in the northern bogs and wetlands. They’re golden-orange and ready for picking from mid-July to August.
Wild Strawberries (Smultron): These tiny, fragrant berries are a delightful find, often growing along sunny forest edges and meadows. They typically appear from June to July.
Raspberries (Hallon): Wild raspberries can be found in the clearings, along roadsides, and at the edges of forests. They’re usually ripe from July to August. You find them in the south part of Sweden.
Best Hiking and Walking Trails for Berry Foraging:
Sörmlandsleden Trail: This extensive trail system in Södermanland offers over 1,000 kilometers of paths through diverse landscapes. Sections near Nyköping and Trosa are known for their rich blueberry and lingonberry spots, especially in late summer.
Skuleskogen National Park: Located in the High Coast area, this park’s trails lead through ancient forests and rocky coastlines. It’s a fantastic spot for blueberry and lingonberry picking, with the best time being August.
Fulufjället National Park: In Dalarna, this park is renowned for its stunning waterfalls and rich berry patches. Cloudberries are the crown jewel here, and foragers flock to the marshy areas in July and August to collect them.
Fulufjället National Park. Photo: Sveriges nasjonalparker
Tyresta National Park: Just a short drive from Stockholm, Tyresta offers an excellent
opportunity for urban dwellers to enjoy berry foraging. The park’s trails meander through old-growth forests, where blueberries and lingonberries grow in abundance from July to September.
Åsnen National Park: Located in southern Sweden, Åsnen’s mixed woodlands and wetlands are perfect for foraging wild strawberries and raspberries, particularly in July and early August.
Abisko National park: Located in the most northern part of Sweden, perfectly located for the golden berries, cloudberries. You find them mainly in the wetlands / swamp. They are growing individually close to the ground and they are the best berries in Sweden if you ask me!
Best Time to Go Berry Foraging: The best time for berry foraging in Sweden is during the summer and early autumn months, typically from mid-July to early October. Each berry has its peak season:
Blueberries: July to September
Lingonberries: Late August to October
Cloudberries: Mid-July to August
Wild Strawberries: June to July
Raspberries: July to August
Foragers should aim to go out in the early morning when the weather is cooler, and berries are at their freshest.
Sweden’s “Allemansrätten” (Right of Public Access) allows everyone to roam freely and pick berries on public land, making it a berry forager’s paradise. Just remember to respect nature and take only what you need!
Agnes Maltesdotter
Berry Picking in Sweden, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Agnes Maltesdotter
Agnes is an experienced Swedish hiker and brand ambassador for Merrell Hiking Club, a women-centric community which aims to empower, inform and inspire female hikers.
The famous Norwegian Viking ship, the Oseberg ship, was built in AD 820, buried in a grave mound 14 years later, and excavated in 1904. Shortly after the excavation, the 21.5m long and 5.0m wide ship was re-assembled and exhibited at the Museum of the Viking Age, on Bygdøy Peninsula in Oslo. Now, the Viking ship in Oslo is on the Move. Price Tag NOK 550 Million ($58 Million).
A new Museum of the Viking Age will open in 2027 on the same site, and the Oseberg ship is now on the move. Price tag NOK 550 million (US58 million). The new museum will be three times as large as the current Viking Ship Museum. In total, the new museum will be approx. 13,000 m2, of which approx. 9000 m2 is audience space, including 5500 m2 of exhibitions.
The new museum will be three times as large as the current Viking Ship Museum.
During the rebuilding of the museum, the Oseberg ship is packed into a steel rig. In the old museum, the Viking ships were stored in steel frames weighing approximately 50 tons. In the new building, the floor will not be able to withstand such a weight, and it has been decided that the ships will be lifted in crane tracks attached to the roof.
Project Manager Lars Christian Gomnæs at Statsbygg
“Moving fragile Viking ships that are more than a thousand years old is unique in the world, and experience and references are not available”, says Project Manager Lars Christian Gomnæs at Statsbygg, who is responsible for the new construction.
In addition to tripling the exhibition area, the new museum facility will include a restaurant, lecture hall, museum shop, museum park, a separate area for visiting schoolchildren, a laboratory with access for the public, and a research center.
The existing building is linked to the new building by a glass extension. This is not only an elegant architectural solution, but also allows the exhibition design to reinforce the initial experience concept. Nothing is more “in the moment” than being able to stand under the sky in daylight before being cast into a different world, more specifically a late summer afternoon in Oseberg in the year 834.
The new Museum of the Viking Age will open in 2027
Viking Ship in Oslo on the Move. Price Tag NOK 550 Million ($58 Million), edited by Tor Kjolberg
Top international speakers and attendees from around the globe meet in Oslo 7 November to network, gain insights from industry leaders, and be part of a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and innovators.Read on and learn more about the12thAnnualNorwegian International Entrepreneur Conference (NIEC) 2024.
International Speakers
The conference boasts a lineup of distinguished international speakers who are leaders in their respective fields. These experts will share their insights, experiences, and strategies, providing invaluable knowledge that can help you navigate the complexities of the global business landscape. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, the wisdom imparted by these speakers can inspire and guide you towards success.
Among this year’s keynote speakers are Claudia van Zuiden (Solutionways) , Arturo Massaro (founder Dream school) and Harry Bruintjes from the Netherlands. Foubder of Homeless entrepreneur Andrew Funk comes from USA and Indrani Govender (Mediator beyond Borders) comes from South Africa. Hanuman Das from UK is founder of www.godharmic.com.
Claudia van Zuiden
“Everyone deserves to live the life their heart longs for, at home, at work and always. You can learn the skills how to do this. And then, just do it,” says Claudia van Zuiden.
Arturo Massaro
Arturo Massaro is an inspiring coach, author, leadership expert, motivational speaker and international trainer. He is founder of the Dream school and inventor of the K.R.A.C.H.T metho, a method to realize your goals much easier and faster.
He has written the book “Expert Tips for Realizing Your Entrepreneurial Goals.”
Hauman Dass
Hanuman Dass founded Go Dharmic in 2013, which launched a campaign to feed the homeless in London. Today, Go Dharmic works to relieve suffering through serving in disasters, advocating for peace, developing schools and alleviating food poverty. It also helps families facing humanitarian and environmental crisis.
Harry Bruinties
Harry Bruintjes is a clarity coach, a strategist, a thinktank, and speaker dedicated to a singular mission: piercing the veil of self-deception and illuminating the path to authentic self-expression and empowerment.
Andrew Funk
Andrew Funk is founder and president of Homeless Entrepreneur and a social impact activist for homeless people.
Indrani Govender
Indrani Govender is an internationally qualified mediator & arbitrator. She also trains and coaches professionals.
The theme of the NIEC 2024 Entrepreneur Conference is “Moving Towards Mastery”. Masterful entrepreneurs are driven to create positive change in the world, whether through innovative products, sustainable practices or social impact initiatives. By aligning their business ventures with a higher purpose, they not only inspire others but also find fulfilment and genuine satisfaction in their own work.
While effective leadership is essential, success in entrepreneurship is very much a team effort. Mastery surrounds itself with a diverse network of mentors, seasoned advisors and peers who provide support and invaluable insights. Consciously building strong relationships and fostering a collaborative ecosystem is essential for entrepreneurial greatness.
Kristian Aarthun and serial entrepreneur Jojan Staël von Holstein, 2019. Photo: Tor Kjolberg
How it all started
The visionary entrepreneur Kristian Aartun established NIEC back in 2011 and we asked him what inspired him to organize such a conference.
“I attended a seminar at the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. Mr. Johan H. Andresen was one of the speakers and I was so impressed and inspired that I stood up and said, ‘I will organize an international entrepreneur conference next year’. If you’ve said A, you must also say B. And I did it,” says Aartun.
The conference took place in Oslo Concert Hall, and prominent speakers and ambassadors from several countries participated.
Stian Rustad. Photo: Tor Kjolberg
“I want to thank my good Norwegian friend and entrepreneur Stian Rustad, founder of 24 Seven. He has been a solid supporter and sponsor for NIEC ever since 2012» says Aartun.
The thoughtfully curated agenda of the 2024 conference reflects the diverse facets of entrepreneurship, delving into pivotal topics that define and shape the entrepreneurial narrative.
At NIEC 2024, you will experience topics like: Innovation, entrepreneurship, inspiration, leadership, how to find your purpose, AI , cyber security. There will interesting key note speeches, and panel discussions.
Meet and network with investors, entrepreneurs, impactful and innovative people from all over the world.
Kristian has over 30 years’ experience as an entrepreneur. He started at the age of 13 to work at radio stations and newspapers. When he was 19, he was hired by Hamburg based music company Edel music AG. He was then the youngest General Manager Music Director in Europe. Through 6 years he built up Edel records Norway from scratch to be the biggest independent record company in Norway.
He was also board member of Norwegian Grammy Awards, board member ethical committee of Norwegian record companies and founder and Chairman of Norway Music Export Norway AS aiming to export Norwegian music internationally. Kristian was also co-founder and Managing Director Of Radio City which was Norway’s most popular local radio at that time. He has also Founded DNBN Dutch Norwegian Business Network and NIEC Norwegian International Entrepreneur Conference.
About NIEC
The Norwegian International Entrepreneur Conference (NIEC) was founded in 2011 by a visionary entrepreneur, Kristian Aartun. His belief that entrepreneurship should transcend the pursuit of profit to embody the creation of value became the cornerstone of NIEC. A Decade of Value Creation Over the past 12 years, NIEC has been at the forefront of entrepreneurial evolution, advocating for value creation through purpose. It has been a platform where like-minded individuals and companies converge to explore how intrinsic and extrinsic values can drive performance and success.
The 12th Annual Norwegian International Entrepreneur Conference (NIEC) 2024, edited by Tor Kjolberg
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About NIEC