Bærum Municipality

Name

The name (Old Norse: Bergheimr) is composed of berg, which means "mountain", and heimr, which means "homestead" or "farm". It probably originally belonged to a farm located at the base of the prominent mountain of Kolsås. In Old Norse times, the municipality was often called Bergheimsherað, meaning "the herað (parish/district) of Bergheimr".

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms was granted on 9 January 1976. They show an old silver-colored lime kiln on a green background. That was an important aspect of the local economy from the Middle Ages until around 1800. There are still some original ovens visible in the municipality.

History

The area known today as Bærum was a fertile agricultural area as far back as the Bronze Age, and several archeological finds stem from the Iron Age. The first mention of the name is from the saga of Sverre of Norway, from about 1200. There are ruins of stone churches from the 12th century at Haslum and Tanum.

The pilgrim road to Trondheim, established after 1030, went through Bærum, and there is evidence that lime kilns were in use in the area in 850. There were shipping ports for the quicklime at Slependen and Sandvika. The lime kiln is the main motif for the municipality's coat of arms.

In the 17th century, iron ore was discovered in Bærum and the ironworks at Bærums Verk were founded. Industries such as paper mills, nail factories, sawmills, glassworks, and brickworks were established along the rivers Lysakerelven and Sandvikselva in the following centuries. There were orchards and other agricultural concerns throughout the area, remnants of which still exist today.

A number of artists established themselves in Bærum, particularly around the art school run by Johan Fredrik Eckersberg. Among the artists who did much of their work in Bærum are Frits Thaulow, Christian Skredsvig, Harriet Backer, Kitty Lange Kielland, Otto Sinding, Eilif Pettersen, Gerhardt Munthe, and Erik Werenskiold.

Starting in the mid-20th century, Bærum's agricultural base gradually gave way to residential construction. Still, only a third of the area, 64 square kilometres (24.7 mi2), is built up for residential use; over half is productive forestry; and nearly 17 square kilometres (6.6 mi2) is still agricultural.

In 2010, the Eurovision Song Contest was hosted in Bærum.

On 10 August 2019, a gunman opened fire on congregants at the Al-Noor Islamic Centre, after shooting and killing his ethnically Chinese adopted stepsister at their home.

Geography

The physical geography of Bærum is dominated by a craggy coastline along the Oslofjord and inland, hilly areas rising to the north and east, where there are large forested areas. The mountain of Kolsås forms a natural center, but the municipality also includes the secluded valley of Lommedalen. Four major rivers flow through the municipality: Lysakerelven, Sandvikselva, Lomma, and Øverlandselva, and there are numerous lakes, both in residential and forested areas. The official municipality flower is Anemone ranunculoides.

The geology of Bærum is part of the Oslo Graben and includes Rhomb porphyry at Kolsås.

Since nearly two-thirds of Bærum's area consists of forests, there are rich opportunities for outdoor activities, such as skiing, hiking, and fishing. The forests are considered part of Marka, the forested areas in and around Greater Oslo. Areas within the municipality of Bærum include Bærumsmarka, Vestmarka, and Krokskogen.

The highest point in Bærum is Vidvangshøgda at 60.0242329°N 10.4838324°E / 60.0242329; 10.4838324 with an altitude of 552 metres (1,811 ft). The largest lake is Stovivatnet with an area of 0.420 square kilometres (0.162 sq mi) at 59.9078776°N 10.4508305°E / 59.9078776; 10.4508305

Economy

Bærum's industrial base has since the 1950s given way to service industries, including retailing, engineering, public services, etc. It derives much of its tax base by being a bedroom community to Oslo. It is one of the most affluent areas in Norway.

Two of Norway's busiest highways (E18 and E16) and one railroad traverse the municipality. There has been considerable development of office parks along E18, especially around Lysaker in the last 20–30 years, reducing some of the pressure on downtown areas of Oslo.

Scandinavian Airlines System Norway has its offices in Fornebu, Bærum. The airline Widerøe has some administrative offices in Lysaker, Bærum. Norwegian Air Shuttle has its head office in Fornebu.

Partnair, a charter airline, was headquartered at Fornebu Airport. When the airline Busy Bee of Norway existed, its head office was on the grounds of Fornebu Airport. Braathens and SAS Braathens had their head office facilities in a building on the grounds of Fornebu Airport. In 2010, Norwegian Air Shuttle bought the former Braathens head office.

Demographics

Bærum (2009) is the fifth most densely populated municipality in Norway. Along the E18 highway, the residential area is continuous with Oslo and continues with some interruption through to the neighboring municipality of Asker.

Bærum is also the most affluent of Norwegian municipalities, with average per capita income (2002 figures) of NOK 370,800; compared with the national average of NOK 262,800. It also has the highest level of education nationwide.

Administratively, Bærum is divided into 22 sections. The population for each section on 1 January 2005 was:

Community

According to a local survey conducted by Dagbladet, Bærum is the best place to live in Norway in terms of governance and services to residents. In addition is it also one of the best places for young people to grow up. Bærum score high on national surveys when it comes to local economical governance, education and possibilities for young people, health coverage, school rankings, and work rights and possibilities

Schools in Bærum

There are a number of schools in Bærum, both public and private. There are a total of 43 public elementary schools ( primary and / or secondary ) and some private, including Bærum Montessori School. According to national surveys, Jar public elementary school ranks the highest when it comes to math, while Lommedalen public elementary school ranks the highest in reading, both are located in Bærum.

There are eight public high schools in Bærum; Dønski, Eikeli, Nadderud, Rosenvilde, Rud, Sandvika, Stabekk and Valler. In addition, the Norwegian College of Elite Sport and Steiner School. The Folk University also has a branch in Sandvika. Valler High School has been ranked within the top 5 high schools in Norway for several years, while Nadderud High School ranks within the top 20. In the later years both schools have met competition from the newly established Sandvika High School. Sandvika High School has had the highest number of applications in the county for the past six years, and is now ranked within top 10 in the country. In 2013 the school also won for Best Entrepreneurship School in Norway.

Sports

Stabæk IF plays in Eliteserien, the highest division for men's football in Norway. Bærum SK

plays in the 2. divisjon, the third highest division of the Norwegian football league system.

Stabæk IF's women's football team, Stabæk Fotball Kvinner, plays in Toppserien, the Norwegian top division.

Høvik IF and Stabæk IF plays in the highest bandy division and Hauger BK in the second highest.

The handball club Haslum Topphåndballforening plays in the top division on both the men's and women's side.

Notable residents

Public Service & Business

Hans Haslum (1789 in Haslum – 1875) farmer, rep. at Norwegian Constitutional Assembly

Otto Sverdrup (1854 – 1930 in Sandvika) a Norwegian sailor and Arctic explorer

Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930), zoologist, explorer, scientist, diplomat, 1922 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and League of Nations High Commissioner

Christian Fredrik Michelet (1863–1927) a lawyer and Mayor of Bærum 1899 to 1910 and acting Prime Minister of Norway in 1923

Halvdan Koht (1873–1965) a historian and Bærum councillor 1910's, 20's & 30's

Alf Staver (1874 in Bærum – 1953) a skier, sports official, educator and politician

Torger Baardseth (1875 in Bærum – 1947) bookseller and publisher

Viktor Esbensen (1881–1942), Whaler and explorer, brought up in Bærum

Johs Haugerud (1896–1971) engineer, politician and Mayor of Bærum from 1959 to 1967

Ingrid Bjerkås (1901–1980) first female minister in the Church of Norway, lived in Bærum

Odd Nansen (1901 in Bærum – 1973) architect, author and humanitarian; co-founded UNICEF

Leif Tronstad DSO, OBE (1903 in Bærum – 1945) scientist and intelligence officer in WWII

Else Werring (1905–1989) a Norwegian royal hostess, lived at Munkebakken estate in Lysaker

The Arts

Claude Monet (1840–1926), painter, stayed in Sandvika in 1895 where he painted Sandvika featuring the Løkke bridge, with Kolsås in the background

Kitty Lange Kielland (1845–1932) a landscape painter, a street in Bærum is named after her.

Harriet Backer (1845–1932), painter of interior scenes; lived in Sandvika from 1888

Eilif Peterssen (1852–1928 in Lysaker) painter of landscapes and portraits

Elise Brandes (1873 in Lysaker – 1918) a Danish sculptor who specialised in busts

Jens Peter Book-Jenssen (1910 in Bærum – 1999) a singer, songwriter and revue artist

Ivo Caprino (1920–2001), Film director of puppet films; lived at Snarøya

Gunnar Brunvoll (1924 in Bærum – 1999) opera administrator at Den Norske Opera

twins (from Bærum) Henny Mürer (1925–1997) & Alice Mürer Siem (1925–2002) ballet dancers

Kristian Bergheim (1926 in Bærum – 2010) a noted saxophonist, lived in Stabekk

Toralv Maurstad (1926 in Bærum – 2022) a prominent stage, screen, and TV actor

Leif Husebye (1926–2009) sports journalist and sailor, lived in Sandvika

Jan Voigt (1928 in Bærum – 1997) actor, dancer and museum director

Sport

Narve Bonna (1901 in Bærum – 1976) ski jumper, won the first ski jumping silver medal at the 1924 Winter Olympics

Godtfred Holmvang (1917 in Bærum – 2006) a decathlete and skier, later worked for the UN

Knut Østby (1922–2010) Olympic silver medal sprint canoeist, grew up in Bærum

Arne Bakker (1930 in Bærum – 2009) footballer with 54 caps for Norway and a bandy player

Dordi Nordby (born 1964 in Bærum) a curler from Snarøya, with world and Euro. gold medals

Ole Petter Pollen (born 1966) a sailor and Olympic silver medalist, lives in Stabekk

Hans Petter Buraas (born 1975 in Bærum), Alpine skier, gold medallist, 1998 Winter Olympics

Bjørn Einar Romøren (born 1981), ski jumper with 8 individual World Cup wins

Henning Hauger (born 1985 in Bærum) a footballer with 350 club caps and 23 for Norway

Caroline Westrup (born 1986) a Norwegian-Swedish professional golfer, brought up in Bærum

Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen (born 1987 in Lommedalen) alpine skier, 2 Olympic bronze medals

Marius Thorp (born 1988 in Bærum) a Norwegian former professional golfer

Andreas Martinsen (born 1990 in Bærum), ice hockey player

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

The following cities are twinned with Bærum:

– Frederiksberg, Region Hovedstaden, Denmark

– Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

– Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, Finland

– Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia

– Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden