Drøbak
Encyclopedia
Drøbak is an unincorporated
city and the centre of the municipality of Frogn
, in Akershus
county, Norway
. The city is located along the Oslofjord
, and has 13,358 inhabitants.
Drøbak and Frogn was a established as a parish on its own through a royal decree Sept. 8, 1823. It had been a part of Ås parish.
Drøbak was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). It was merged with Frogn
January 1, 1962.
Traditionally, Drøbak was the winter harbour of Norway's capital, Oslo
, since in severe winters the fjord will freeze from outside Drøbak all the way up to Oslo. It had a city status between 1842 and 1962, upon which point the municipality was merged into the rural municipality Frogn and lost its city status. The city status was regained by the municipality council on 13 February 2006. It was also decided that adjacent villages such as Heer
would be included within the city.
A notable event in Drøbak's history is the World War II
sinking of the German cruiser Blücher
in the Drøbak narrows, on the early morning of 9 April 1940. The cruiser was transporting German soldiers and bureaucrats for the planned swift occupation of Oslo, but the sinking by the Oscarsborg fortress delayed this, and thus allowed for the evacuation of the Norwegian Royal Family
, parliament, and cabinet, and for the nation's gold reserves to be denied the occupiers.
Early Drøbak had ferries that crossed the fjord, in modern times they have largely been replaced by an underwater tunnel. However, some of the old ferries are still used as "floating restaurant
s" during the summer.
In summertime, cruise ship
s visit Oslo almost every day. Often, as many as four or five cruise ships visit each day, in addition to all the regular traffic, it has made Drøbak a popular sea-side tourist spot. However, the numerous restaurants, art galleries and mild summers is probably more important factors for visiting tourists.
Drøbak is also known for its many art galleries. The town has Christmas
shop called Julehuset (the Christmas house), and letters often end up in Drøbak from Europe
similarly to how they end up in Santa Claus, Indiana
in the United States.
Also, Norsk Luftambulanse
is headquartered in Drøbak.
form of the name was Drjúgbakki. The first element is drjúgr 'hard; long', the last element is bakki m '(up)hill'.
This is related to the very steep hills upon which main road into Drøbak Center winds.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
city and the centre of the municipality of Frogn
Frogn
Frogn is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Follo traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Drøbak. Frogn was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, in Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The city is located along the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
, and has 13,358 inhabitants.
Drøbak and Frogn was a established as a parish on its own through a royal decree Sept. 8, 1823. It had been a part of Ås parish.
Drøbak was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). It was merged with Frogn
Frogn
Frogn is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Follo traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Drøbak. Frogn was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
January 1, 1962.
Traditionally, Drøbak was the winter harbour of Norway's capital, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, since in severe winters the fjord will freeze from outside Drøbak all the way up to Oslo. It had a city status between 1842 and 1962, upon which point the municipality was merged into the rural municipality Frogn and lost its city status. The city status was regained by the municipality council on 13 February 2006. It was also decided that adjacent villages such as Heer
Heer, Norway
Heer is a village in Akershus, Norway....
would be included within the city.
A notable event in Drøbak's history is the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
sinking of the German cruiser Blücher
German cruiser Blücher
Blücher was the second of five heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, built after the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the ship was laid down in August 1936 and launched in...
in the Drøbak narrows, on the early morning of 9 April 1940. The cruiser was transporting German soldiers and bureaucrats for the planned swift occupation of Oslo, but the sinking by the Oscarsborg fortress delayed this, and thus allowed for the evacuation of the Norwegian Royal Family
Norwegian Royal Family
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King and his spouse, the Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and the...
, parliament, and cabinet, and for the nation's gold reserves to be denied the occupiers.
Early Drøbak had ferries that crossed the fjord, in modern times they have largely been replaced by an underwater tunnel. However, some of the old ferries are still used as "floating restaurant
Floating restaurant
A floating restaurant is a kind of vessel which is usually a type of steel barge used as a restaurant on water. For example, the Jumbo Palace at Aberdeen in Hong Kong is one such restaurant. Sometimes retired ships are given a second lease on life as floating restaurants. The former car ferry New...
s" during the summer.
In summertime, cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s visit Oslo almost every day. Often, as many as four or five cruise ships visit each day, in addition to all the regular traffic, it has made Drøbak a popular sea-side tourist spot. However, the numerous restaurants, art galleries and mild summers is probably more important factors for visiting tourists.
Drøbak is also known for its many art galleries. The town has Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
shop called Julehuset (the Christmas house), and letters often end up in Drøbak from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
similarly to how they end up in Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
in the United States.
Also, Norsk Luftambulanse
Norsk Luftambulanse
Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse is a Norwegian non-profit foundation that promotes and implements measures to provide emergency medical assistance...
is headquartered in Drøbak.
The name
The NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
form of the name was Drjúgbakki. The first element is drjúgr 'hard; long', the last element is bakki m '(up)hill'.
This is related to the very steep hills upon which main road into Drøbak Center winds.
Places
In Drøbak there are seven notable areas into which the city is divided. These places include:- Gyltåsen, which mainly consists of cabins and "season-housing".
- Husvik, where most of the year-around boats are being kept. This area was also significant in the sinking of BlücherGerman cruiser BlücherBlücher was the second of five heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, built after the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the ship was laid down in August 1936 and launched in...
as the cannons called "Husvik batteri" (The Husvik artillery) lie in the hills of Husvik. The cannons are still in place on these hills for tourist attractions.
- Sentrum (city centre), here lies "Julehuset" and most of the local stores. Most of the City Centre is being protected by local laws as "Verneverdig" which in short terms means that it has a significant cultural value and cannot be changed or rebuilt. Therefore much of the city centre looks like it did 100 years ago.
- Skiphelle and Elleflaten, an area consisting of suburban housing and a tiny hotel called "Drøbak Fjordhotel".
- Sogsti, consisting of much of Drøbak's suburban housing.
- Odalen and Haveråsen is the "outer banks" of Drøbak, where the housing and population consists more of agricultural purpose.
- Belsjø and Heer, the suburban housing around the large golf couse surrounding most of northern Drøbak.
- Ullerud and Dyrløkke, a large hill of suburban housing. Here are also the local mall, fire station and a large school up to high school level.