​

​

Norway

​

Norway is a country on the Western Scandinavian Peninsula on the top of Europe.

Capital: Oslo
Area: 385,252 square kilometers, 3 % of the mainland is arable land.
Population: 5,258,317 (as of January 2017)
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Monarch: Harald V
Official languages: Norwegian, Sami
Currency: Norwegian kroner NOK

​

History

​

About 10,000 BC, following the retreat of the great inland ice sheets, the earliest inhabitants migrated north into the territory which is now Norway. The Viking Age, starting around 800, saw the unification of the country. The Black Death coming to Norway in 1349 halved the population, and in 1397 entered the Kalmar Union with Sweden and Denmark. After Sweden left the union in 1523, Norway became junior partner in the kingdom of Denmark-Norway. After the defeat in the Napoleonic wars, Norway was ceded to the king of Sweden in 1814. The union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, and Norway became an independent monarchy. Industrialization started in the 1840s, and shipping and hydroelectricity should become important sources of income for the country. The 1960s and 1970s saw the start of fish farming, and oil extraction in the North Sea, becoming todays backbone of the Norwegian economy. The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). On a per-capita basis, Norway is the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas outside the Middle East. Norway is famous for its beautiful landscape sceneries, fjords and mountains, and special cultural heritage like the stave churches. Tourism is a growing and becoming of increasing economic importance.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

.

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bergen – “the city between seven mountains”

​

Bergen is situated on the west coast of Norway and was founded in 1070. Bergen should become an important center for the stock fish trade to Europe. From the end of the 13th century Bergen became a bureau city of the Hanseatic League and a major European trading and seafaring port and trading centre for Hanseatic merchants. Until 1789, Bergen enjoyed exclusive rights to mediate trade between Northern Norway and abroad. Bergen was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s when it was surpassed by the capital, Christiania (now known as Oslo). Bergen is today the second largest city in Norway. The municipality of Bergen covers 465 square kilometres, and the population is 280.000. Bergen became a European Capital of Culture in 2000, and is a World Heritage City. Today’s Bergen is a regional capital with services for fisheries and fish farming, services to the oil industry, shipping, administration, and the city is hosting 3 universities. Tourism is also important, and Bergen and Western Norway is known for beautiful landscape sceneries of fjords and mountains, and Bergen is also called the “gateway to the fjords”.
 

Venue and accommodation

​

Hotel Zander K is the main venue and conference hotel for the meeting, and located in central city close to the Railway station and Lightrail stop Nonneseter. Hotel Zander K was in 2017 amongst 14 European hotels nominated to the world’s best urban hotel by Wallpaper.

 A beneficial price is negotiated for FIG attendants.

​

How to get to Bergen

​

By plane

​

Flesland airport Bergen (BGO) has easy access by many direct flights.  Central connections are Oslo, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Main airlines flying to Bergen are SAS, Lufthansa, KLM, Norwegian, British Airways.

​

By ferry from Denmark

​

Bergen has a ferry connection to and from the Continent. Fjord Line sails to Hirtshals, Denmark, and the ferry docks in the city center.

​

By train from Oslo

​

There is train connection between Oslo and Bergen. This is ranked as one of the greatest train journeys in the world.

​

For participants who choose to take part in the technical excursion on Friday September 28, there will be an option to take the train from Myrdal station to Oslo, instead of returning to Bergen.

​

Travel from Bergen Airport Flesland to Hotel Zander K:

​

Bergen Airport Flesland is located 18 kilometers south of Bergen.

​

By Bybanen (Lightrail): At the entrance of the airport, take the escalator down one floor. 40 minutes to stop Nonneseter. NOK 37

​

By bus: The airport bus departs every 15 - 20 minutes and takes about 30 minutes to the Bergen city center.10 minutes walk to hotel Zander K.

​

By taxi: 20 minutes. NOK 500

​

Travel from Bergen Airport Flesland to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences:

​

If you arrive at the airport on Monday September 24 and want to go directly to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, take Bybanen (Lightrail) to stop Kronstad. You will see the entrance of the University; it is 100 meters walking distance.

​

Travel from Hotel Zander K to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences:

​

Take the Lightrail from stop Nonneseter (close by the hotel, on the other side of the Railway Station) to stop Kronstad. You will see the entrance of the University; it is 100 meters walking distance.

​

Climate

​

The average temperature in September is 13 degrees Celsius. The rain season in Bergen is January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Bring clothing that will give you protection against the rain that might (probably) come.

 

Practical information

​

1 NOK = 0,104 Euro
1 Euro = 9,65 NOK (per May 1 2018)
VISA and Mastercard are accepted in most shops, and in taxis as well.
ATM automats are available at the arrival hall of the airport and in town.
Dialing code: 47
Standard voltage is 230 volts
Standard frequency is 50 hertz
Power sockets are of type F

​

​

​

​

What to do in Bergen and Western Norway – if you have vacation time to spend before or after the meeting

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

​

 

At Visit Bergen – The Official Website of Bergen and the Region, you will find the information you need when being at visitor to Bergen and Western Norway.

​

At Visit Norway you will find the information you need for visiting other spots and regions in Norway.

​

By car you can experience the sceneries of Norway. Be aware that not all roads have the highest standards. To drive from Oslo to Bergen takes approx. 10 hours. There are ferries to Norway from different ports in Denmark and Germany.

​

The Hurtigruten cruise has its starting point in Bergen.

​

Links that could be of interest for visitors to Bergen

​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen

http://ourscandinavia.com/bergen/

http://realscandinavia.com/exploring-bergens-seven-mountains/

http://www.bergen-guide.com/579.htm

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/bergen-and-the-western-fjords/bergen

https://www.worldweatheronline.com/blog/2016/07/12/bergen-raining-all-year-round/

​

​

Visa requirement

 

It is the participating persons own responsibility to apply for and obtain necessary visa.

 

Citizens from EU/EEA countries do not need a visa to visit Norway. Also for citizens from a range of other countries, visa is not required.

 

Check here if you are from a country that do not need to apply for a visa:

 

https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/persons-who-do-not-need-a-visa-to-visit-norway-/

 

Otherwise, if you are a citizen from a country needing a visa to enter Norway, find the visa rules for Norway:

 

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/norway-visa/

​

The organizer does not hold any obligation for refund for seminar fee if a registered participant does not obtain visa

 

 

Healthcare and travel insurance

 

Participants from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland should ensure that they have a valid European Health Insurance Card from their home country. The card is documentation that you are entitled to necessary health care services on the same terms as Norwegians.

 

Participants from outside EU/EEA are not entitled to reimbursement by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme for medical treatment received. Nor entitled to subsidisation of return journey to home country.

 

All participants are responsible for having the necessary travel insurance.

 

You can find more information on the web pages of the Norwegian Health Services:

 

https://helsenorge.no/foreigners-in-norway

​