Journey through Norwegian art and imagination with Nasjonalmuseet

By Celina Tran

In the heart of Oslo, between the waterfront of Aker Brygge and the stately Oslo City Hall, a new landmark has quickly become one of Scandinavia’s most exciting destinations for art and culture lovers. Join close to a million other visitors every year in experiencing the Norwegian National Museum’s many visual flavours, from world-famous masterpieces to immersive spaces inspired by Norwegian folklore.

Norway’s National Museum, Nasjonalmuseet, opened the doors to a brand-new building in 2022 and has since worked towards a simple yet important ambition – to create a museum for everyone. “Our mission is to research, preserve and share Norwegian art,” says director Ingrid Røynesdal. “But equally important is making sure people feel welcome here. We want to be the museum for all of Norway.”

Visitors to Oslo in the coming months can look forward to experiencing iconic works, including the original version of The Scream by Edvard Munch, enchanting encounters with characters from Norwegian fairy tales and, of course, new exhibitions exploring architecture, life, death and pioneering female artists.

Nan Goldin, Kathleen in the Taxi to Greer’s Funeral. Chicago, 1996. © Goldin, Nan / BONO

A new face for age-old art

While the current building is new, the museum’s story stretches back more than a century. The institution known today as Nasjonalmuseet was created in 2003 through the merger of four major pre-existing Norwegian museums: the National Gallery of Norway, the Museum of Contemporary Art Norway, the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, and the National Museum Architecture. “The goal was to gather Norway’s artistic heritage under one institution,” says Røynesdal.

The Munch Room. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet/Børre Høstland

Nearly two decades later, that vision got footing on newer, bigger grounds when the museum opened its new building at the waterfront in 2022, designed by architect Klaus Schuwerk. The scale of the museum is striking. Covering 54,600 square metres, it is the largest art museum in the Nordic region, yet only a portion of that space is dedicated to public galleries. “We hold around 400,000 works of art, architecture and design,” Røynesdal explains. “Only a fraction can be displayed at any one time, so much of the building is devoted to the essential work behind the scenes: preserving, researching and caring for the country’s artistic heritage.”

Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet/Børre Høstland

With so much to see and do, visitors might want to grab a bite in between or after taking in the sights. You need not go far for plenty of good dining options, because the museum houses five dining venues celebrating Norwegian culinary traditions, a popular bakery-style bollebar serving sweet buns in countless variations, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views across the city to Akershus Fortress and the Oslofjord.

Director Ingrid Røynesdal. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet/Ina Wesenberg

Munch madness, folklore and fun

At the heart of the museum lies the permanent collection display. Spanning two floors and showcasing around 6,500 works, it offers an extraordinary journey through centuries of Norwegian and international art, architecture and design.

One of its undeniable highlights is the room dedicated to Edvard Munch, where visitors can encounter the very first painted version of The Scream from 1893. The haunting masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most iconic images in art history. “We also exhibit major works by other key figures in Norwegian art history, including Christian Krohg, as well as artists associated with the country’s national romantic movement,” says Røynesdal.

The Fairy Tale Room. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet/Børre Høstland

Another beloved space is the fairy-tale room, where the imaginative universe of Norwegian folklore comes to life. Here visitors encounter mysterious creatures like Nøkken, as well as iconic magical landscapes illustrated by artists such as Theodor Kittelsen and Erik Werenskiold. Among the highlights is Kittelsen’s celebrated painting Kvitebjørn kong Valemon, inspired by the folk tales collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. “We also recently secured a long-term loan of another iconic work of Norwegian art history, Birkebeinerne, which means that we can give visitors the chance to experience this dramatic national narrative painting up close,” says Røynesdal.

Wenche and Jens Selmer, Summer House on Fjelldalsøy (Fjelldals island), 1960. Photo: Max Creasy, 2025

Architecture, female art, and the end of life

Alongside the permanent displays, Nasjonalmuseet hosts an ambitious programme of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. In 2026, several shows shine a spotlight on women who pursued artistic careers at a time when the art world was largely dominated by men. “Opening this spring is Wenche Selmer. What Can You Live Without?, which is an exhibition dedicated to the influential female Norwegian architect Wenche Selmer,” says Røynesdal.

From May, visitors may experience Asta Nørregaard: Truth and Beauty, the first museum exhibition devoted to Asta Nørregaard, one of the most sought-after portrait painters of her time. The same month, Don’t Be Afraid. An Exhibition about Death opens, which explores how art can help us confront the inevitability of death. Combining historical objects such as urns and death masks with contemporary artworks, it invites visitors to reflect on one of life’s most universal, yet difficult experiences.

From the exhibtion BOOM!. Photo: Nasjonalmuseet/Annar Bjørgli

“Meanwhile, architecture enthusiasts can head to the recently reopened National Museum – Architecture, where the exhibition BOOM! examines how the baby boom after the Second World War transformed architecture and urban planning,” adds Røynesdal.

From world-famous masterpieces to mythical creatures lurking in the forests of Norwegian folklore, Nasjonalmuseet offers a cultural journey unlike any other. And as spring turns into summer in Oslo, is there ever a better time to experience the best of Norway’s art scene?