Jessica Reid | 14 June 2022
Oslo opens the biggest museum in the Nordics
The National Museum of Norway has more than 5,000 works of art, from medieval tapestries to modern day designs
The National Museum of Norway has more than 5,000 works of art, from medieval tapestries to modern day designs
The largest museum in the Nordics has opened in Oslo after nearly eight years of planning and developing.
The new National Museum of Norway began welcoming visitors from 11 June to explore its vast array of art, design and architectural works.
With an exhibition area of around 13,000 m2, the museum is twice its original size and bigger than world-renowned favourites such as Guggenheim Bilbao.
Located close to the promenade on Oslo’s harbour, it offers some of the best views across the city.
This exciting new opening in Norway's capital is just another reason why Wanderlust editors' added Oslo to our Travel Hot List for 2022.
There's much to discover inside the enormous building. Spanning two floors and almost 90 rooms, there will be more than 5,000 works on display from 400,000 objects, ranging from medieval tapestries to modern designs.
The new National Museum of Norway will open in June (Iwan Baan)
Edvard Munch, "Dance of Life", 1899-1900 (The National Museum / Børre Høstland)
The museum will house more than 5,000 works (Iwan Baan)
Artistic icons such as Van Gogh and Monet have their work showcased at the museum, along with a significant collection from Edvard Munch, a Norwegian painter who had a museum dedicated solely to his life and work open in the city two years ago.
Temporary exhibitions can be seen on the roof in a space called ‘The Light Room’. For the opening, there is a display of more than 150 Norwegian contemporary artists’ work.
The museum is also home to an open-air roof terrace, café, shop and the biggest art library in the Nordics.
Designed by German architects Kleihues + Schuwerk, the entire structure is made from long-lasting materials including oak, marble and bronze, with its outside entirely covered with Norwegian slate. The building is one of Norway's FutureBuilt pilot projects, promising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%.
To find out more and book a guided tour, head to The National Museum of Norway.
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