This archive of old boats and marine artifacts emphasizes the importance of the sea to Norway’s prosperity and culture.
Explore more than 2,000 years of Norwegian maritime history and culture at the Norwegian Maritime Museum. The museum’s collection covers shipping, fishing, marine archaeology and building traditions from the Viking Age and Medieval Era. Among the artifacts are ancient boats, navigational tools, ship plans, equipment, photos and paintings.
View the cluster of traditional open boats, including the Dugout Boat. At more than 2,200 years old, this oak canoe is believed to be the oldest boat in Norway.
Pick up insights into marine technology from the earliest floating craft to today’s ocean liners at The Ship exhibit. Try steering remote-controlled boat models in the exhibition’s pool.
Go to the Boat Lab to watch boatbuilding workshops and construction of seaworthy replicas of historic ships. Stop by Gram Hall on level one to study maritime paintings by prominent Norwegian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to representations of the coast and numerous ships, their work covers themes of life and death.
One of the museum’s most popular attractions is an 18-minute visual journey along Norway’s coast. This panoramic movie is spread across five screens and is shown every 30 minutes in the museum’s movie theater. Admission to the movie is included with the general ticket price.
The museum has activities to stimulate young minds. Take your children to the Children’s Boat Workshop where they can construct their own model boats. The workshop is open every Sunday afternoon.
Situated on the waterfront in the Bygdøy Peninsula, the museum is only a few minutes away from the city center. Take the number 30 bus or in the summer the ferry from City Hall pier.
The Norwegian Maritime Museum is open every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day. Note that in 2014, the museum is upgrading exhibitions for its centennial. For up-to-date details, visit the museum’s official website.
