Ørje

Østfoldmuseene - The Halden Canal Museum, Ørje

  • The picture shows a woman and a young girl looking at a large picture or exhibit on a wall. They are both pointing and smiling, and it looks like the
  • The picture shows a little girl holding a ladle and pretending to pour something from a large milk can. She is smiling and seems to be playing inside
  • The picture shows a boy touching a large screen, possibly an information or learning display at a museum. He looks focused. Behind him stands a man w
  • The picture shows two fish swimming in an aquarium with blue water. The fish in front has stripes on its body and reddish fins. Underwater plants can
  • The picture shows a boy and a girl playing inside a small wooden house. The boy is holding a ladle over a large milk can, while the girl watches and s
  • The picture shows a museum exhibit about logging. A large log with an old handsaw lies on the floor, and behind it are big black-and-white photos show
  • The picture shows a man and a boy looking at old diving equipment in a museum. On the table in front of them are a heavy, old-fashioned diving helmet
  • The picture shows a family – a woman, a man, and two children – looking at large black-and-white photos on a museum wall. They are all smiling and see
  • The picture shows a woman standing and reading a brochure inside a museum. Behind her is an exhibit with photos and text about the Halden Canal. She i
  • The picture shows a boy bending down and looking closely through a magnifying glass in an exhibit. In front of him is a water tank with plants, and be
  • The picture shows two children playing inside a small wooden house. The girl is smiling at the camera while holding a ladle over a milk can on a blue
  • The picture shows a woman looking at an exhibit in a museum. She stands in front of a wall with old photos and text, holding a water bottle in her han
  • The picture shows a man holding a little girl as they look at fish in a large aquarium. The man is pointing at a fish, and the girl is looking where h
  • The picture shows a boy and a girl running hand in hand and smiling. They look happy and are playing inside a museum, where a small wooden cabin and s
  • The picture shows a woman and a young girl looking at large black-and-white photos on a museum wall. The girl is pointing at one of the pictures, and
  • The picture shows a little girl playing a large wooden Connect Four game. She is placing a red piece and smiling as she plays. Behind her, parts of a
  • The picture shows two boys playing outside on a wooden seesaw made from a log and a tire. One boy is climbing up while the other stands behind watchin
  • The picture shows a girl and a boy standing outside in the sunshine. The boy, wearing an orange T-shirt and sunglasses, is pointing at something in th
  • The picture shows 2 grils standing outside by a fence surrounded by green plants. The one girl is pointing at something in the water or grass, and th
  • The picture shows a man standing behind the reception desk at the Canal Museum. He is smiling at the camera. Around him are brochures, books, and a co
  • The picture shows an exhibit inside a museum. Along the walls are information boards, pictures of fish and nature, and a large aquarium with blue ligh
  • The picture is an old black-and-white photo showing a large group of men inside a factory or sawmill. They are standing among large machines and beams
  • The picture is an old black-and-white photo showing a large group of men in front of a brick building. Most are sitting or standing in rows, wearing s

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  • 69 11 56 50

    • Engebret Sootsv. 13, Ørje Brug

    Marker, Østfold

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Discover the natural and cultural history of the waterways through pictures, objects, a series of models and 5 different aquaria.

The Halden Canalmuseum, Ørje

The Halden Canalmuseum is part of the Østfold museums, and is located in the old wood grinding factory at Ørje Brug. The museum conveys the rich cultural and natural history associated with the Halden watercourse.



The Øsfold museums - The Halden Canalmuseum

In the heart of Ørje is the Halden Canalmuseum, where you can explore how natural forces and human efforts have shaped the watercourse through the ages. The museum takes you on a journey from the landscape of the Ice Age to the heyday of timberfloating.



Cultural history - the journey of the timber

Central to the cultural history exhibition is the log. By following its journey from the forest, through the river's waterways and up to the sawmills and wood mills, you will become familiar with the history of log timberfloating.

Meet the loggers, the rafters, the sawmill owners - and the canal builder Engebret Soot.



The Halden watercourse has been used for floating timber for over 500 years. The timber came from the forests in the north - of Nes, Sør-Odal and Eidskog, as well as from Swedish areas such as West Värmland and Dalsland, and was transported through the watercourse to Fredrikshald (Halden), where it was processed and exported to Europe.



At the museum you can also watch a film about the history of the river, made in 2016, which is shown in our small movie theater.



Natural history - the imprint of the ice age

In the museum's inner circle, the glacier leads you into the natural history section.The retreat of the ice after the last ice age shaped the landscape of the Halden watercourse, with lakes, rivers and wetlands.

This unique landscape is home to a rich diversity of species, including rare animal species - so-called ice age immigrants.



The museum has several aquariums where you can see freshwater fish, crayfish and other species from the watercourse, as well as the forest's birds and mammals - and for the extra interested: the tracks they leave behind.



The children's museum

Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum is an exciting place for families with children. For the little ones, the house in the “forest” is ready for play, while the slightly older children can investigate small animals in the exciting “water channel”.The outdoor area offers play equipment, and from the pier outside you can experience the boating life with the large steamboats that still serve Ørje.



Østfoldmuseene has museums and visitor venues throughout Østfold!

For opening hours and events, see our website

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Source: Visit Indre Østfold