Norwegian Maritime Museum

Welcome to Norsk Maritimt museum, or Norwegian Maritime Museum, where you can explore Norway's maritime heritage and more than a thousand years of maritime history through captivating stories about life on and by the sea. In the Boat Hall here at Bygdøynes, you’ll discover a hidden chapter of Oslo’s history that lay beneath the city harbor’s surface for 400 years. Over the past decade, extensive archaeological excavations in Bjørvika, Oslo, have uncovered a wealth of artifacts offering a fascinating glimpse into life along Oslo Harbor from the Middle Ages to the 1600s. Even centuries ago, Oslo was an important trading hub and a bustling meeting point for ships from near and far. In Bjørvika, archaeologists unearthed remains of over 50 boats, ranging from small vessels to larger merchant ships, showcasing the evolution of shipbuilding and trade through the ages. They also found pottery, tools, weapons, and jewelry that tell the story of craftsmanship and the lives of those who lived and worked in the area. Tobacco pipes reveal smoking habits and international trade, while ice skates made from bones offer small glimpses into children’s winter play in old Oslo. Step inside and dive into a past hidden beneath the waves. Experience Oslo’s untold maritime history up close.