This year’s jubilee will commemorate the life and achievements of two of Norway’s most famous sons: Fridtjof Nansen, who was born 150 years ago this year, and Roald Amundsen, who, accompanied by four of his men, was the first to reach the South Pole 100 years ago.

Places of interest

Where in Norway can you learn more about Nansen and Amundsen? Here are a few suggestions.

Top of your list should be the Fram Museum in Oslo, which celebrates its 75th birthday this year and is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in polar exploration. Located on Bygdøy, a short ferry ride from Aker Brygge in Oslo, the museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts, photographs and films, although the centrepiece of the permanent exhibition is undoubtedly the Fram, the wooden ship Nansen used to explore the Northeast Passage along the coast of Siberia, and on which Amundsen travelled to the South Pole. The main exhibition describes the three great Fram expeditions (led by Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen respectively), while rotating temporary exhibitions focus on a range of polar issues. The museum also boasts the largest polar bookstore in the world, with some 220 titles. Opening hours vary throughout the year, but the museum is open daily in high season (1 May to 31 Aug) 9 am - 6 pm. Adults 60 NOK, concessions 25 NOK, family ticket (up to two adults and three children) 120 NOK.

Amundsen’s childhood home in Borge, near Sarpsborg, is the house where Amundsen was born, the youngest of four brothers, on 16 July 1872. His family, which owned this farm and several others in the area, lived here for generations, and this place in Borge played a significant part in Amundsen's upbringing. As a child the future polar explorer spent many a holiday here, watching the ships ply the River Glomma, already harbouring dreams of travelling to the far corners of the world. His childhood home has been preserved just like it was when Roald Amundsen lived there. There is a cafe and a souvenir shop in the barn next door, which also houses a small conference centre. Guided tours in Norwegian, English and German every weekend during the summer (May to Aug, 30 NOK per person), private tours can be arranged the rest of the year. Book via the tourist office in Fredrikstad (phone: +47 69 30 46 00).

Idyllically located by the Bunnefjord, the villa Urianenborg in Svartskog, south of Oslo, is where Amundsen lived for 20 years, until 1928 (the year of his death). He planned several of his polar expeditions from here. The house, which has been a public museum since 1935, holds several mementoes from his expeditions, including the piano he had on board the Maud and the sledge he used on his way to the South Pole, as well as photos and other personal objects that give an insight into the man behind the public figure. Reference books, maps, presents bestowed on Amundsen by various contemporaries and the mandatory stuffed polar bear complete the picture.

If you come in summer, combine your visit with a dip in the fjord – there are lots of pretty bathing spots in the area. Guided tours Tuesday - Sunday from mid-May to Sep. Adults NOK 40, concessions NOK 20, family ticket NOK.

Both Nansen and Amundsen have a gallery dedicated to their life and achievements at the Polar Museum in Tromsø, which is part of Tromsø University. New for the Nansen Amundsen Year 2011 is the exhibition "Snowhow: What the polar heroes learned from the Inuit, the Sami and Arctic seafarers" onboard MS Polstjerna, a restored seal hunting vessel. Opening hours vary throughout the year, but the museum is open daily in high season (mid-June to mid-Aug) 10 am - 7 pm. Adults NOK 50, concessions NOK 25, family ticket NOK 85.

What’s on?

Nearly 130 events are planned in Norway and abroad this year to celebrate the Nansen Amundsen Year 2011. Here are some of the highlights in Norway:

Until 31 December 2011
Nansen and Me, Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo. A new activity room at the Nobel Peace Centre, where children and families can learn about Fridtjof Nansen's work for refugees, and what it means to be a refugee today.

17 January - 25 March 2011
Bryggen Museum, Bergen. Exhibition "North - Science at the End of the World", with focus on Fridtjof Nansen's scientific work (in cooperation with the Fram Museum).

15 Apr 2011
The Norwegian post office issues three stamps to commemorate the jubilee.

18 June – 9 October 2011
Lillehammer Art Museum, Lillehammer. "Fridtjof Nansen, scientist and artist". Nansen was a talented draughtsman, and he used many of his sketches to illustrate his research. The museum displays some 50 works on paper lent from both public and private collections.

16 September – 10 October 2011
The University of Oslo. Exhibition "North - Science at the End of the World", with focus on Fridtjof Nansen's scientific work (in cooperation with the Fram Museum).

9 and 16 October 2011
Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Lysaker, just outside Oslo. Guided tours of Polhøgda, Nansen's home for almost 30 years (now home to the Fridtjof Nansen Institute). Details will be announced nearer the time on the Fridtjof Nansen Institute's website.

10 October 2011
The Fram Museum, Oslo. Opening of a new permanent exhibition on Fridtjof Nansen and the First Fram Expedition.

14 December 2011
The Fram Museum, Oslo. Opening of a new permanent focusing on Amundsen's expedition to the South Pole. 

Until the end of the year: The exhibition "Snowhow. What the polar heroes learned from the Inuit, the Sami and Arctic seafarers" onboard MS Polstjerna, part of Tromsø University.

Throughout the year: Hurtigruten celebrates Norway's most famous polar heroes and their achievements by organising a number of themed trips this year, including the Ice Breakers in October, several trips to Svalbard throughout the summer, and a trip to Antarctica in December to mark 100 years since Amundsen reached the South Pole on 14 December 1911.

About Nansen and Amundsen

Nansen first made a name for himself crossing Greenland on skis, and subsequently trying to reach the North Pole on the ship Fram, although he is today remembered as much more than just a polar explorer. Also an accomplished scientist, statesman and humanitarian, Nansen used his fame, first as a political activist to put an end to Norway’s union with Sweden in 1905, and after WW1 working relentlessly to help improve the plight of refugees – an effort he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for in 1922.

Amundsen made it into the history books (and became a national hero in Norway) when he famously beat Captail Rober F. Scott to the South Pole, which he reached, accompanied by four of his men, on 14 December 1911 (100 years ago this year). He was also the first man to navigate the Northwest Passage, and the first to fly across the Arctic Ocean.

Two exceptional men and national heroes, whose life and achiements helped put Norway on the international map. More information on Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.

Further reading

The Fram Museum in Oslo will publish all the crew members’ diaries from Amundsen’s South Pole expedition, as well as the diaries of Fridtjof Nansen and his men on the first Fram expedition. The books, available in English, will be sold in the museum and online via the museum’s webshop.

To accompany their anniversary exhibition “Race to the End of the Earth”, the American Museum of Natural History in NYC publishes a book of the same name that includes the stories of both the Norwegian and British expeditions to the South Pole in 1910-12.

More info on the Nansen Amundsen Year 2011 .