Voksenåsen is Norway’s national gift to Sweden, 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.
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.
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.
Voksenåsen is Norway’s national gift to Sweden 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.”
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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 workLatest news and stories from Voksenåsen.
In February, the Arctic Chamber Music Festival took place in Svalbard, with Voksenåsen serving as one of the festival’s partners for the first time.
The application portal for the 30th edition of the Summer Academy is now closed, and we are pleased to announce a new record with a total of 430 applicants!
On the weekend of April 17–19, the working group for the Nordic Youth Conference on Democracy 2026 will gather at Voksenåsen to begin planning this fall’s conference.
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