A national treasure with a vital social mission
Voksenåsen is Norway’s national gift to the Swedish people, presented in gratitude for the humanitarian aid provided during World War II. The property in Oslo is owned by the Swedish government and managed by the National Property Board. The organization is structured as a Norwegian limited liability company, wholly owned by the Swedish government through the Ministry of Culture.
Voksenåsen is a hotel and cultural center in Oslo, where commercial hotel and conference operations are combined with a non-profit cultural mission. The cultural activities aim to strengthen Swedish-Norwegian cooperation and promote knowledge of the two countries’ languages, cultures, and societies.
Through outreach activities, particularly those aimed at young people, Voksenåsen promotes learning, community, and social understanding. Key initiatives include remembrance trips to memorial sites for the victims of Nazism in Norway, the Voksenåsen Music Academies, and democracy projects in collaboration with other Nordic countries.
Drawing on the unique energy of the location, Voksenåsen creates gatherings that provide space for reflection, inspiration, and new perspectives.
Mission and Framework
Mission and Framework
Voksenåsen is a Norwegian limited liability company wholly owned by the Swedish government through the Swedish Ministry of Culture. The company is part of a group of state-owned enterprises with a specific public mission adopted by the Riksdag. The mission aims to generate social benefits beyond financial returns.
The 7,000-square-meter building and the 33,000-square-meter lot are owned and managed by the Norwegian State Property Agency.
The framework for the company’s operations is set forth in the company’s articles of incorporation and in the annual allocation and regulatory letter from the owner.
Articles of Association, Section 3
The purpose of the company shall be to operate Voksenåsen in order to promote Swedish-Norwegian understanding and carry out related activities. Through initiatives and projects, the company shall also seek to reflect Sweden’s and Norway’s international engagement. Voksenåsen shall be open to everyone. In its capacity as a contact center for Sweden and Norway, the company shall collaborate with various communities, organizations, and institutions of significance to the priority areas.
The People Behind Voksenåsen
The organization is divided into three divisions—the National Gift, the Cultural Center, and the Hotel—which together fulfill Voksenåsen’s social mission.
The National Gift
Is responsible for the building, the government mandate, and community relations.
The Cultural Center
Develops and organizes seminars, courses, long-term projects, exhibitions, and networking programs—and works to achieve the organization’s goal of fostering Swedish-Norwegian unity through cultural, linguistic, and community programs.
The hotel
Offers modern conference facilities and restaurant services, and is responsible for the hotel and conference operations.
The management team consists of the CEO, the program director, and the hotel director, along with a dedicated team of producers, project managers, and educators who drive the business forward.
The History of the National Gift
Voksenåsen is Norway’s national gift to the Swedish people in gratitude for the humanitarian aid provided during World War II.
During the war years, Norway received substantial humanitarian aid from Sweden. The aid ranged from food to assistance for refugees. One of the most well-known efforts, however, was “The White Buses,” a rescue operation for Norwegians and Danes in German concentration camps.
As a token of gratitude, the estate at Voksenåsen was presented as a national gift to the Swedish people in 1955, as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.
At the opening on October 2, 1960, both King Olav V of Norway and King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden were present, along with the prime ministers of both countries. In his acceptance speech, Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander said:
“It is a promising sign for the future that Norway’s national gift aims to place cultural cooperation and engagement with young people at the center.”
Environment and sustainability
At the heart of Voksenåsen's activities lies a desire to ensure ethical and commercially sustainable operations. We take responsibility for the future — for the people, culture, and nature around us.
As a hotel and cultural center in Nordmarka, we have a special responsibility to protect the natural environment that surrounds us, and we are constantly working to reduce our environmental impact.
Read about our sustainability workReports
Download or open our annual reports and annual statements.
Annual Report 2025
DownloadClimate Report 2025 Voksenåsen AS LUMA – Sustainability Tool from Miljøfyrtårn
DownloadVSME Full Report 2025
DownloadAnnual Report 2024
DownloadAnnual Report 2023
DownloadAnnual Report 2022
DownloadResolution on the Proposal for an Auditor for Voksenåsen AS for 2023 (Signed)
DownloadAnnual Report 2021
DownloadAnnual Report 2020
DownloadThe fate of Norwegian Jews should occupy a central place in the narrative of Sweden and the Holocaust.
DownloadAnnual Report 2019
DownloadAnnual Report 2018
DownloadAnnual Report 2017
DownloadAnnual Report 2016
DownloadMemorandum from the Sweden-Norway Research Conference on WWII, April 9–10, 2019
DownloadProgram Guide 2017
DownloadMemory trips to Norway, online
Download
A modernist collection — accessible to everyone
The Voksenåsen Art Collection is a modernist collection characterized by abstract expressionism and informal painting. A revitalization took place in 2019, when Anne Pira of the Norwegian Arts Council curated the original collection and supplemented it with new acquisitions.
The artworks are displayed in the common areas throughout the building and are easily accessible to all visitors.
Learn more about the art collection