When Nikita Khrushchev visited a resident of Tøyen in Oslo in 1964, he said, “It’s good here, but where do you actually live?” Read on and learn more about Oslo’s multicultural neighborhood.
Tøyen is a residential area located in the central part of Oslo, within the borough of Old Oslo. It’s a vibrant and diverse neighborhood in Oslo, boasting several hidden gems, including street art, delicious food, and local culture.
The densely populated residential area of Tøyen is clustered around the Tøyensenteret, now appropriately renamed Tøyen torg. Over the years, Tøyen has been referred to as Problem-Tøyen, Immigrant-Tøyen, and Trendy-Tøyen.
North of the subway station, a park features botanical gardens, as well as paleontological, geological, and zoological museums.
However, there’s much more to be discovered in this lesser-known suburb of Oslo, a multicultural haven renowned for its parks and thriving culinary scene. The district is home to the Øya Festival and the X Games; it has its own Tøyen-cola, gourmet restaurant, cocktail bar, and sports club. Tøyen is also home to Norway’s first dedicated youth library and the entrepreneurial initiative Tøyen Startup Village.
Tøyen has been associated with social problems, such as poverty, due to the high number of immigrants residing in the area. Indeed, the area is a melting pot of cultures. They have, however, brought with them a diverse range of culinary delights. From spicy Pakistani curries to comforting Ethiopian stews, this neighborhood is a foodie’s dream. But beyond the delicious eats lie a host of hidden treasures – walk down any of Tøyen’s side streets and you’ll discover eccentric cafes, community gardens, and quirky shops.
The turnaround in Tøyen in the late 1990s is somewhat reminiscent of Grünerløkka and later Youngstorget in the city center. Researchers have called for a social housing policy, while the elderly complain that developers are primarily concerned with building cocktail bars and nightlife venues.
Tøyen may be a small neighborhood, but it packs a significant cultural punch. In addition to the Hovedøya Abbey Museum and the Intercultural Museum, there is also the Natural History Museum, where you can learn about everything from the Northern Lights to prehistoric mammals. And, of course, no visit to Tøyen would be complete without a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, which boasts more than 7,500 plant species spread over 40 acres.
Since the 1970s, the authorities have intermittently attempted to attract more affluent households to Tøyen, with the goal of creating greater population diversity and reducing the social disparities between Oslo’s east and west sides. One of the best-known public initiatives is the Tøyen Area Development Program, initiated in 2013. Business actors also seem to have renewed interest in Tøyen as an investment location. In recent years, Tøyen’s attractiveness has increased, and the area has seen an influx of young middle-class residents. However, the housing stability of this group appears to be low, and previous studies indicate that the high rate of moving to Tøyen is primarily due to many majority Norwegian families with children relocating.
The area is named after Tøyen Manor (Tøyen hovedgaard), one of the former large estates in Oslo. Tøyen was originally a property owned by the Nonneseter Abbey. The current Manor House was built in 1679 and is one of Oslo’s oldest timber buildings. Norway’s Chancellor Jens Bjelke acquired the property around 1620. When the Chancellor died in 1659, his youngest son, Jørgen Bjelke, inherited the estate. City magistrate Johan Lausen Bull sold the farm to King Frederik VI in 1812, after which the king donated the farm to the University of Christiania. In 1814, work began on the University Botanical Garden. (Wikipedia).
Today, Tøyen is a neighborhood that truly has something for everyone, from multicultural food scene to its offbeat museums and attractions. Visit Tøyen and experience the vibrant and diverse suburb for yourself, and you’ll likely consider adding it to your Oslo itinerary the next time you’re in town.
Oslo’s Multicultural Neighborhood, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top) © Wikipedia