Despite being two separate municipalities, Asker and Bærum are often seen as one unit. There has always been a lot of cooperation and interaction between these two municipalities.
Asker and Bærum are suburbs of Oslo, located on the west side of the Norwegian capital. They have a combined area of almost 300 square kilometres and a total population of approximately 165,000 inhabitants (about 111,000 in Bærum alone).
The town of Sandvika is the administrative centre of the Bærum municipality, and Asker is the administrative centre in the Asker municipality.
Notable residents
According to SSB (Statistics Norway), Asker and Bærum rank as the wealthiest municipalities in Norway, based on median household income. Bærum has the highest proportion of university-educated individuals in Norway. Asker and Bærum are also famous for having some of Norway's priciest and most fashionable residential areas.
Many members of the Norwegian Royal Family live in Asker and Bærum. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit live in Skaugum in Asker with their children. And Princess Märtha Louise and her family have their residence in Lommedalen in Bærum.
Nature and location
In Asker and Bærum you will find a good sample of Norwegian nature. A landscape that varies from beaches and fjord to forests and hills, and all this just a few minutes' drive from the capital Oslo.
Enjoy the Oslofjord with its thrilling islands and small island communities, wide, open and fertile valleys, arable land, hilly terrain, challenging rock faces and deep forests.
Business and events
The municipalities are known for their sports- and cultural events, but many also come to Asker and Bærum for shopping. Scandinavia's largest shopping mall can be found in Sandvika, Bærum. The first IKEA store outside of Sweden opened in Billingstad, Asker, in 1963, and since then Billingstad has developed into an important shopping area.
Many of the country's main companies have chosen to locate their head offices in Asker and Bærum. Fornebu in Bærum for example is one of Scandinavia's fastest growing business districts, housing a vast concentration of Norwegian main offices and headquarters.