From timber to cars

We are now passing one of the oldest, biggest and most successful ports in Norway. Timber, produce and goods have been redistributed from the port of Drammen for over 1000 years. The solid timber from the forests around the Drammen River has been a popular commodity in Europe ever since ships were able to cross the world’s oceans. In the beginning it was exported to England to be used as mast timber in ship building, often exchanged for foodstuffs such as salt. Timber, power from the watercourses, the harbour and later the railway provided the founders of the city with great opportunities. Cellulose and textile factories, tile works, copper works and more sprang up along the banks of the river creating tens of thousands of jobs. Today many of these factories have closed down or moved but Drammen harbour continues to thrive and is more attractive, effective and environmentally friendly than ever. For decades, the port of Drammen has been Norway’s biggest gateway for car imports. Containers and other goods also pass through the busy harbour every single day, but the exporting of timber has been replaced with the importing of state of the art cars.