When will the Museum of the Viking Age open?
We plan to reopen November 2027, but this can still change. Now, among other things, the complete renovation of the old museum building remains, as well as the moving of more than 5,000 (!) objects. We look forward to presenting a new and fantastic museum to visitors from all over the world, and we are counting the days until we have an opening date to share. To keep updated, we recommend following our newsletter.
Where is the new museum located?
The new Museum of the Viking Age is being built as an extension of the former Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy in Oslo.
Why has the museum been delayed?
The Government funded the construction of the new Museum of the Viking Age in September 2019. In May 2022, the Government decided to reduce the cost of the new museum, resulting in a cut of approximately 250 million NOK. This led to significant delays in the project. Additionally, the groundbreaking work to secure the ships and sleds against damage and vibrations during the construction process has been extremely challenging and has taken longer than anticipated.
Why is the old museum closed while you are building the new museum?
The former museum, which will become a central part of the new museum complex, is also a construction site. All items that can be moved are safely stored in the museum's storage facilities before they will be returned to the new museum building. The ships and sleds, too fragile to be moved, had to remain in the original building, well protected from the impact of the work at the site.
Who is building the Museum of the Viking Age?
The new museum is being comissioned by the Ministry of Education. Statsbygg, the Norwegian Government’s key advisor in construction and property affairs, is the project owner. AF Gruppen is responsible for the construction itself, and AART Architects have designed the building. The University of Oslo will have the operational responsibility for the building once it is completed, and the Museum of Cultural History handles all things related to exhibitions, research and public services.
Why are you building a new museum?
Since the first part of the museum opened to the public in 1926, the interest in the ships and artefacts has been enormous. The conditions for the ships in the old Viking Ship Museum are not adequate, and the building can not handle the large numbers of visitors wanting to experience the ships. The old museum was designed to handle 40,000 visitors annually. Before the museum closed for rebuilding, we welcomed more than half a million visitors through our doors every year.
A new building with a more stable climate, less dust and with support systems protecting the artefacts from vibrations, the ships and artefacts will be safe for future generations. This will allow us to present the Viking ships and the collection from the Viking Age in a safer and more visitor-friendly way, giving the audience a new and spectacular experience.
How are you ensuring that the ships and sleds remain safe during the construction period?
The conservation and collection management specialists at the museum are working together with Statsbygg and external experts to find solutions for safe handling of ships and artefacts during the construction process and to ensure safe methods for moving them into the new building.
Both the viking ships and the fragile sleds from the Oseberg grave is now safely moved into the new building, where they are monitored very closely.
Watch David Hauer, Conservator in charge, explain about securing the Viking ships
What will the old museum building be used for?
The beautiful cathedral-like Viking Ship Museum, designed by Arnstein Arneberg and opened to the public in 1926, will be a very important part of the new museum. The main entrance will be in the same place as before, and the building will house ticket sales, an auditorium, a museum shop, wardrobes, and staff-facilities.
Why should you look forward to the opening of the new museum?
Because it is going to be a world-class museum where you will get up close to the world's finest collection of Viking Age artefacts. Spectacular exhibitions will give the 5,400 unique artefacts on display the space and facilities they deserve. Additionally, it will be a museum with fantastic architecture, educational and engaging experiences for the whole family, exciting events, and always something new to discover.
It will be a museum for all of Norway, with artefacts and knowledge from a central era in our history. While the Viking Ship Museum showcased ships and artefacts from four ship burials, the new museum will provide a more comprehensive picture of the entire Viking Age, with Norway's finest cultural heritage, the Viking ships, as the main attraction.
Where can we see Viking Age artefacts now that the museum is closed?
At our sister museum in the city centre of Oslo, the Historical Museum, you can see exquisite artefacts from the Norwegian Viking Age in the VÌKINGR and the Miðgarðr exhibitions.