Buskerud fylkeskommune

TAKE A LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES IN
buskerud
GROW UP | LIVE | LEARN | WORK | EXPERIENCE
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From the windswept rocky slopes along the coastline to dramatic mountain wilderness,
expansive plateaus and looming mountaintops, from small idyllic farms to large international
technology and IT centres. Stave churches and trendy lively cities. Adventures and activities
- Buskerud is a county of many opportunities.
LOCATION
Buskerud County was established in 1760 and is located
centrally in South-eastern Norway. The county is divided
into 21 municipalities and stretches from the mountains of
Hemsedal in the north to Hurum on the southern coast.
Its centralised location makes travelling in Norway and
travelling to or from foreign countries easy. Everything is
just a short trip away by car, bus, train, boat or airplane.
Drammen is the county’s main hub for traffic, with a large
harbour, and is the terminal station for the express train to
Oslo Gardermoen international airport.
THE LOCAL POPULATION AND
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Communities in the north-western part of the county are
only found in the long and narrow valleys of Hallingdal,
Numedal, Sigdal, Eggedal and in adjacent mountain ranges.
The economic base for these communities is agriculture,
forestry, tourism and hydropower production.
Most of these communities are located in the lowlands in
the southeast part of the county. This is where the most
fertile agricultural land is found around Tyrifjorden and along
the Drammenselva River, to name just two examples. The
southern part of the county has a variety of businesses and
services, especially in the cities of Drammen, Hønefoss and
Kongsberg.
THE COUNTY’S ORIGINS
The county’s name comes from a farm named Buskerud
(Biskopsrud) in Modum. The county’s coat of arms consists
of important elements from the county. The bear is the main
element on the coat of arms because Vassfaret and
Buskerud
– a county of opportunities
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1. The Strømsø Torg (market square) in Drammen
2. Drammen – the terminal station for the airport express train
3. The Holmsbu boat harbour
4. A variety of winter activities
5. The view of Bergshammaren, Sigdal
6. The silver mines of Kongsberg
7. There are still bears in Buskerud
8. The Biskopsrud Farm in Modum
9. The cobalt mines in Modum
surrounding areas were known for their bear populations.
The blue colour on the bear is a beautiful cobalt blue once
extracted from around Modum by the Blaafarveværket.
The silver shield symbolises the enormous wealth that the
silver mines at Kongsberg once extracted from the ground.
Hemsedal
Gol
Hol
Ål
Nes
Flå
facts and figures
Ringerike
Nore og Uvdal
Krødsherad
Sigdal
Rollag
Modum
Flesberg
Hole
Lier
Nedre Eiker
Røyken
Øvre Eiker
Drammen
Kongsberg
Hurum
• Area: 14 927 km2
• Population: 261 110 (1.1.2011)
• 21 municipalities
• Cities: Drammen, Kongsberg, Hønefoss, Hokksund
Culture and adventures
– traditional and unique
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Lively folk dance or dance floor boogie? Jazz? Rock? Or some lovely chamber music?
Music reflects the diversity available from our cultural events. Walk through history in one
of Buskerud’s seven large museums. Get inspired by visiting one of the county’s five stave
churches or at one of the many estate houses around the county. Plan a day to enjoy the
exciting activities at the Blaafarveværket. Or visit the beautiful Drammens Teater.
INSTITUTIONS OF ART AND CULTURE
There are many museums you can visit in Buskerud that
make an important contribution to our local identity.
The Blaafarveværket Museum was built to show the
history of cobalt mining from when the old mines were
in operation in Modum from 1773 to 1893. It is possible
to visit the mines with a tour guide along with visiting the
museum’s exhibitions.The Kongsberg Silver Works began
mining activities in 1623. After 335 years the silver mines
are still an important and exciting attraction. The Veien
Cultural Monument Park in Ringerike provides a unique
peek into the country’s 2000 years of history. Some
marvellous objects from the Early Iron Age can be seen
here. The Art Laboratory in Vestfossen (Kunstlaboratoriet)
exhibits international contemporary art of the highest quality.
ARTISTS AND ART COLONIES
Many famous artists have lived or stayed in Buskerud.
Holmsbu attracted artists from all over Scandinavia as early
as the beginning of the 1800s. Theodor Kittelsen illustrated many of Norway’s folk tales. Kittelsen lived at Lauvlia
in Sigdal, which is now a museum.You can visit Herman
Wildenvey’s childhood home at Portåsen in Nedre Eiker.
You can experience poetry reading, exhibitions and
concerts here.
MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS
Buskerud also has some of the largest concentrations of
Norwegian buildings from the Middle Ages. There are more
than 40 medieval buildings in Numedal alone. Four of
Buskerud’s six stave churches are also found in this valley.
Medieval buildings made of wood are quite unique in
national and international contexts. The stave churches
hold a special position in this regard.
FESTIVALS
A number of important festivals are arranged in Buskerud
every year. The Kongsberg Jazz Festival is the county’s
largest festival, which takes place at the beginning of July.
The Folk Music Week in Ål is organised for the month of
May and is an essential part of our national folk music and
folk dance traditions. Local food and dining traditions are
also represented by a number of culinary festivals, including
the Egertorget Food Festival in Hokksund in early September.
THE CULTURAL CENTRES
The county’s numerous stages and cultural centres present
concerts and theatre performances.The venerable old
Drammens Teater is a living piece of our national cultural history.
It was rebuilt after a fire in 1993 and may be Norway’s most
beautiful theatre.
1.The Uvdal Stave Church in Numedal
2.Tubaloon – the stage and landmark for the Kongsberg Jazz Festival
3. Blaafarveværket in Modum –
Buskerud’s most visited tourist attraction
4. The Vikersundbakken Ski Jump
5. Cultural traditions are kept alive
6. Be challenged at the art laboratory in Vestfossen
7. Participate in many exciting cultural activities
8. Musical enjoyment for almost everyone
9. Drammens Teater – Norway’s most beautiful theatre?
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FACTS AND FIGURES
• 6 stave churches
• 40 medieval buildings in Numedal
• The Krøderbanen Train Line in Krødsherad,
Norway’s longest museum train
• The Vikersundbakken Ski Jump Park in Modum, the world’s longest ski jump hill (2011)
• The Nøstetangen Glass Works in Øvre Eiker,
Norway’s first glassworks
• The county’s largest museums:
The Kunstnerdalen Culture Museum
The Eiker and Lågendalen Museums
Hringariki
The Hallingdal Museum
The Drammens Museum
Blaafarveværket
The Norwegian Mining Museum
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Nature and outdoor activities
– adventures from fjord to mountaintop
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Bear watching. Wild reindeer. Virgin forests. Beautiful orchids. Try your luck at salmon
fishing. Hunting. Kiting. Fantastic ski destinations. The nature of Buskerud County is beautiful
and diverse. You can find just about any outdoor activity you like here. From Hardangervidda
in the northwest to the region of Hurum in the southeast, our natural environment and its
awaiting adventures vary with the seasons of the year.
NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS
Buskerud has two national parks: Hardangervidda (3 422
km2) and Hallingskarvet (450 km2). Hardangervidda is
Northern Europe’s largest high mountain plateau.
Buskerud also has many expansive protected landscapes
and a number of nature reserves in many of its
municipalities. The Trillemarka Nature Reserve stretches
through the municipalities of Sigdal, Rollag and Nore Uvdal
and is Norway’s largest protected range of forest.
ACTIVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Many of the country’s best ski resorts and towns are
located in Buskerud. Geilo, Hemsedal and Norefjell are
among the best for alpine and cross-country skiing. Finse
is a paradise for kite skiing. Stable winds and a long winter
season attract enthusiasts from around the world.
During the summer you can bicycle down the ski slopes
or bicycle the old Rallarvegen along Hardangervidda. The
county offers many excellent bicycle trails and roads. There
are many opportunities for bicycle trips near cities, towns
and in the countryside. You can follow a coastal trail in
Hurum or rove along wild Hardangervidda.
During the summer boating becomes a favourite pastime
in the county’s large lakes and along the coast.
GETTING INTO NATURE
Buskerud has a magnificent natural environment and abundant
animal life. You can find many different animal species in
the wilderness, or see our animals up close in the nature
reserves. The Vassfaret Bear Park in Flå and the Langedrag
Nature Reserve in Uvdal has many wild Norwegian species
like bears, wolves, lynx, arctic fox and elk.
You can fish in the fjords, rivers and mountain lakes. The
Drammen Water Course is known for its excellent salmon
fishing and is a favourite travel destination for salmon
fishermen from all over Europe. If you are interested in other
more uncommon fishing adventures you can participate in a
trout safari or go river snorkelling in Hemsedal.
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1. Enjoy our coastal culture to the fullest!
2. You can fish for salmon in Drammenselva River
3.Take a bicycle trip in the mountains
4. Go rafting in Numedalslågen
5. Make your way to one of Norway’s leading
ski destinations
6. Glacier hikes
7. Lively fun on the beach in Hurum
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FACTS AND FIGURES
• Approximately 4 000 km2 of
national parks
• Salmon fishing in the Drammen
Water Course, 308 km
• 24 types of orchids in Øvre Eiker
• Leading ski destinations:
Geilo, Hemsedal and Norefjell
• Longest fjord: Tyrifjorden in Modum, 138,56 km²
• Highest point: Folarskarsnuten in Hol, 1 930 m
• The coastline: 123 km
1. Commercial industries and services are very important sectors
for the county
2. Industrial production as far the eye can see
3. Construction activity is extensive
4. One of the nation’s largest counties where chalets are concerned
5. The Aass Brewery – the country’s oldest brewery
6. The harbour of Drammen is one of the busiest in Norway
7. Ancient culinary traditions – new possibilities
8. Kongsberg – a city of technology
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A very attractive region for business and industry. Centrally located. Committed to
knowledge-based enterprises and competence development. Extensive collaborations
between the education sector and business & industry. Important international technology
centres. Data and telecommunications companies.
OUR TRANSPORT HUB CITY
Drammen is the county’s largest city and an important
traffic hub for transport by boat, car and train around the
region and to other parts of Norway. The city is the
terminal station for the express train to Oslo Gardermoen
international airport. Drammen’s harbour is one of the
country’s largest and busiest. The proximity to Oslo makes
the city an attractive location for setting up a business.
TECHNOLOGY CENTRES
Knowledge-based businesses are becoming more and
more important for business and industry in Norway.
Kongsberg is known for its large companies and
important environments within advanced technology.
Defence systems, offshore, maritime systems and the
production of auto parts are among the most important
industries here. Kongsberg is home to a number of
well-known international companies with a significant
amount of export activities.
OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Hønefoss has traditionally had a lot of industry related to
forestry and wood processing. Many public entities are
located here, alongside a wide range of other industries –
especially within the area of natural resources like concrete,
sand and stone.
The county’s agricultural production is predominantly
based on fruit and vegetables, sheep and cattle products.
Buskerud leads the way in ecological agriculture; many of
our local manufacturers are testing out new production
techniques.
TOURISM
Buskerud is one of Norway’s largest travel destinations
with Hallingdal as the country’s largest region of travel. The
county has more than 45 000 chalets and holiday homes.
Business & Industry
– from primary industries to knowledge-based technology
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FACTS AND FIGURES
• Hallingdal is Norway’s largest region of tourism
• There are more than 45 000
chalets in the county
• 11 square kilometres
dedicated to vegetable production
• 25 % of Norway’s wood processing • The Aass Brewery (1834) in Drammen is the country’s oldest brewery
The urban scene
– lively, inclusive and heading for the future
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Development or transformation? From grey stalwart industrial towns to lively and vibrant
commercial meeting points, the towns of Buskerud are characterised by a lush combination
of the old and traditional with the new and modern. Trendy shopping. Entertainment,
attractions, social environments and nightlife abound.
DRAMMEN – TRENDY AND EXUBERANT
Drammen is a multi-cultural city with inhabitants from 140
countries and with a wide selection of cultural and
educational environments to choose from. The city has
undergone a unique and distinctive development attracting
national and international attention.
Bragernes Torg is the heart of the city. The Bragernes
Church and the Tower Buildings are the main visual
attractions in the urban landscape. The market square is
always bubbling with activity and is surrounded by
restaurants and stores. The prize-winning Ypsilon bridge
connects the beautiful walkways along the shores of both
sides of the river. Drammen has many recreational areas in
the middle of town.
KONGSBERG – A CITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Kongsberg is a city of technology with advanced international
and innovative competence environments. Kongsberg and
its downtown are also very charming, lively and busy. This is
where ancient cultures meet new ways of life. You will find
many businesses and enjoyable restaurants on both sides
of the Lågen River.
Kongsberg’s cultural life attracts many visitors, with the
Kongsberg Jazz Festival and the Gloger Classical Music
Festival as the most prominent attractions. Downtown is
home to the Norwegian Mining Museum, the Kongsberg
Ski Museum and the Lågdals Rural Culture Museum. The
silver mines outside the centre of town have been
attracting visitors since the end of the 1800s.
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6. 7. 8. Wireless connection all around town
Abundant market stalls brimming with
seasonal raw materials and foods
Cycling in town
Many irresistible attractions
Good shopping opportunities in the cities
Meet friends at a café
Downtown concerts
Skateboarding – an important part of the urban scene
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HØNEFOSS – CONNECTING EAST AND WEST
The town of Hønefoss grew around the waterfalls. The
forest and timber mills gave birth to the town. Hønefoss is
where traffic from South-eastern Norway meets
South-western Norway and Hallingdal. Downtown you will
find shopping centres, small shopping streets and enjoyable
restaurants and bars.
The centre of town is home to cultural attractions like the
17th century Riddergaarden, the old prison from 1860 and
of course the large Veien Cultural Monument Park with its
ancient burial mound just north of town.
HOKKSUND – A PLEASANT LITTLE TOWN
Hokksund is a pleasant little town located alongside the
Drammenselva River between Drammen and Kongsberg.
It is particularly well-known for its salmon fishing along
the Hellefossen cascades. Hokksund was also home to
the Nøstetangen Glass Works, Norway’s first glass works,
which is now a museum.
FACTS AND FIGURES
• Cities in Buskerud with number of
inhabitants in the municipality
as of 1.1.11:
Drammen (63 582)
Kongsberg (25 090)
Hønefoss, Ringerike (28 946)
Hokksund, Øvre Eiker (16 987)
• Distances to Oslo:
Drammen 43 km
Kongsberg 82 km
Hønefoss 65 km
Hokksund 64 km
• Drammen – The administrative centre of the region
• Kongsberg – a city of technology
• There are rivers in all the towns
and cities
• There are ski resorts in Drammen
and Kongsberg
1. Papirbredden – Drammen’s Knowledge Park
2. Research and development
3. Active college/university environments
4. Old traditions – new forms
5. Advanced technology in Kongsberg
6. A wide range of attractive college and
university environments
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FACTS AND FIGURES
Affected operators and environments:
• Innovation companies
• Industrial parks and knowledge parks
• College/university education
• Advanced technology environments in Kongsberg
• Product development within the medical and health sectors
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Competence and innovation
– a knowledge-based society for the future
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New ideas abound in modern and creative environments. The region is committed to
supporting knowledge parks, college/university centres and competence centres.
Knowledge and creativity are becoming the most important driving forces for value creation in
our society. Knowledge increases in value the more it is shared and used.
A SOCIETY OF KNOWLEDGE
Our society is moving more towards knowledge-based
value creation where human resources are the primary
focus.
Papirbredden – Drammen’s Knowledge Park is a regional
meeting point for competence development and
innovation. There are three college/universities located
there, along with a modern library and a number of
important local companies, organisations and projects that
focus on sharing knowledge and innovation.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Many research and development environments have been
finding their home around Drammen. The medical, health
and care services sectors have been developing new and
exciting products and services in Drammen, often in
cooperation with public agencies and private companies.
INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRES
Kongsberg is home to many large businesses that work in
the field of advanced technology. In only a very short
period of time Kongsberg has been able to establish a
unique level of competence seen from national and
international viewpoints. NCE, the Norwegian Centre of
Expertise, is leading the way in Norway in the area of
industrialisation of technological innovation. Many
companies in Kongsberg are participating in this important
collaboration.
ART AND CULTURE
The demand for cultural products is rising; the region has
taken the opportunity to invest in growth and
development in this sector. Cultural businesses and projects
are an important area of commitment for Buskerud; the
county’s desire to be innovative and cooperate in this area
is great. Events, travel and other cultural activities and
businesses have come into focus and new important
connections between art and business have been
developed here.
The Buskerud County Municipality
– a part of your everyday life
The Buskerud County Municipality is one of Buskerud’s largest and most multi-disciplinary
competence environments with more than 2 000 employees. With professional experience
from education, transport and communications, regional development, public health, culture,
cultural heritage and dental health etc. – the county municipality is seen as a very attractive
competence environment and an attractive workplace. Competence development is the
key to the organisation itself and to the people working in the organisation.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
The county municipality administrates important social
tasks and is responsible for upper secondary education and
training offering studies that meet the needs for skills in
the region.
The county municipality is responsible for transport and
communications, which among other things includes public
transportation and a large part of the public
roads network.
The county municipality cooperates closely with local municipalities, businesses and organisations to promote
development in the many different regions of the county.
The county municipality is working actively to improve
travel opportunities and destinations by supporting the
travel industry and travel businesses around Buskerud
County. Where culture is concerned, the county is
working to bring the best cultural activities to as many
towns, regions and inhabitants as possible. The county
municipality provides support to museums, different
sports and cultural events and invests in new arenas for
such events.
Buskerud has more than 400 protected heritage houses.
It is the county municipality’s task to protect the cultural
monuments in the county.
The county municipality provides free dental care to
children and young people up to the age of 18, along with
care for the mentally handicapped, the ill and those in
need of care at institutions and for everyone living at a
nursing home.
THE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES
The county municipalities were established as a third level
of local administration to try to increase democratic processes, decentralise government tasks and make government more effective.
Democratising by giving the region more political control
of centralised administrative tasks.
Decentralising by sharing previously centralised
administrative tasks with regional agencies.
Improving the effectiveness of government by sharing
administrative tasks between government levels to
optimise results and costs and be able to see where
change is needed.
FACTS AND FIGURES
• The county municipality is governed by the council, elected every four years
• The county council consists of
43 representatives
• The chairman of the county council is the council’s highest political position and its leader
• The county commissioner is the county municipality’s highest administrative leader
• 13 upper secondary schools,
one post-secondary school, one employment institute and four centres for adult education
• 1 800 kilometres of county roads
• 39 dental health clinics (2011)
• More than 2 000 employees
Oslo
Postboks 3563
3007 Drammen
Tel: +47 32 80 85 00
[email protected]
www.bfk.no
Date: 01.10 2011
Photo: Buskerud fylkeskommune, Nils Maudal, Torbjørn Tandberg, Nina Holtan, Flytoget, Ingar Holm, Bjørn Johnsen, Hemsedal Turistkontor,
Hemsedal.com/Nils-Erik Bjørholt, Casper Tybjerg/www.visitnorway.com, Kongsberg Gruppen, Kongsberg Automotive, Anders Knutson Medhus,
Bjørn Furuseth, Bjørn-Owe Holmberg, Tom Schandy, Thorfinn Bekkelund, www.RIB-Adventure.no, www.espenorud.no, a-aa.no
print: Trykk-Service
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