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Drammen kommune

Strømsø-Bragernes

Municipality

Coat of arms

Buskerud within
Norway

Nickname(s):

Elvebyen, The River City

Drammen within Buskerud

Country

Norway

County

Buskerud

Administrative centre

Drammen

Area

• Total

137 km² (53 sq mi)

• Land

135 km² (52 sq mi)

Area rank

#366 in Norway

Population

(Second quarter of 2024)

• Total

105,042

• Rank

#7 in Norway

• Change (10 years)

9.7%

Drammenser

• Summer (DST)

NO-3301

Official language form

Bokmål

Website

Data from Statistics Norway

Drammen is a lively city and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It's a port and river city located in the south-eastern part of Norway, which is the most populated area. Drammen municipality also includes smaller towns and villages. Some of these are Konnerud, Svelvik, Mjøndalen, and Skoger.

Exploring Drammen: Location and Growth

Drammen is found west of the Oslofjord inlet. It is about 44 kilometers (27 miles) southwest of Oslo, Norway's capital city. More than 100,000 people live in the municipality. The city itself is a main center for an area with about 82,000 residents. Drammen and its nearby communities are growing fast. More people are moving there, and the economy is getting stronger. The city uses the Drammensfjord for fun activities like recreation and fishing. People also enjoy living in homes along the waterfront.

Understanding Drammen: Name and City Symbol

The name Drammen comes from an old Norse word, Drafn. This was the name for the inner part of the Drammensfjord. The fjord was likely named after the river Drammenselva. The river's name, Drǫfn, means 'wave'.

The city's coat-of-arms was created more recently, in 1960. It shows a silver column on a silver rock. A silver key and sword cross over it, all on a blue background. This design comes from an old seal from 1723 for Bragernes. Bragernes is one of the main parts of Drammen. The items in the seal represent important ideas: the key stands for faith, the sword for justice, and the column on rocks for strength.

How Drammen is Governed

On January 1, 2020, three areas joined together: Svelvik, Nedre Eiker, and Drammen. They formed what is now called "The New Drammen Municipality." This new municipality is Norway's seventh largest, with over 100,000 residents. The main offices for this larger municipality are in the city of Drammen.

In 2021, Drammen city had about 82,875 people. However, it serves as a regional hub for an area with more than 110,000 people. The city has won many awards for its environment and city development. Since 2003, it has received 21 awards, including 16 national and 5 international prizes.

Drammen's Main Areas

After the merger in 2020, the municipality was divided into ten main regions. These regions help manage the different parts of the city and its surroundings.

Mjøndalen
Krokstadelva
Åssiden
Gulskogen
Konnerud
Fjell
Strømsø
Bragernes
Åskollen
Svelvik

Drammen's Past: A Look Back in Time

The first signs of people living in the Drammen area are rock carvings at Åskollen and Austad. These carvings are very old, dating back 6,000 to 7,000 years. The biggest rock carving at Åskollen shows a moose.

Drammen started as three small seaports: Bragernes (on the north side of the Drammenselva river) and Strømsø and Tangen (both on the south side). These small ports were linked to bigger market towns for trade. Bragernes was connected to Christiania, and Strømsø to Tønsberg. This made it hard for the nearby seaports to work together.

In 1662, there was an idea to combine Strømsø and Bragernes into one market town called Frederiksstrøm. But King Frederick III said no. Bragernes got some market town rights in 1715. Finally, on June 19, 1811, Bragernes and Strømsø merged to become a single city.

Drammen's location was perfect for seafaring, shipbuilding, and the timber trade. In the 1800s, paper and pulp industries also grew. A big fire on July 12–13, 1866, destroyed much of the city. This led to rebuilding the city center, including the unique town square and Bragernes church. The Drammen Line railway opened in 1872, connecting Drammen and Oslo.

In 1909, Drammen got the first trolleybus system in Scandinavia. These electric buses ran until 1967. For many years, Drammen's center had a lot of traffic. To help with this, the Drammen Bridge was built in 1970. It was later expanded. In 1999, the Bragernes tunnel opened, sending even more traffic away from the city center.

In recent years, Drammen's city center has been improved. New homes, shops, restaurants, and cafes have opened. There is also a public path along the Drammenselva river. In 2011, Drammen celebrated its 200th birthday with many events. The city also updated its heating system to use water-sourced heat pumps from the fjord. This helps support the city's growing population.

Drammen's Landscape: Geography

Drammen is one of Norway's larger cities. It is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Oslo, the capital. The city center sits at the end of a valley. It spreads out on both sides of the Drammenselva river, where the river meets the Drammensfjord. The Holmen island in Drammen is also Norway's main harbor for importing cars and fruit.

The Drammen region is part of the larger area around Oslo. It is the country's fifth largest urban area. It stretches into nearby municipalities like Lier, Asker, Øvre Eiker, and Holmestrand. As of 2021, the total population of this wider area is 110,236 people. In 2008, Drammen won a special award for being the best city in Europe for urban development.

Drammen's Weather: Climate

Drammen has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. Because it is in a sheltered spot at the end of a narrow fjord, Drammen is one of the warmest cities in Scandinavia during summer. The warmest month ever recorded was July 2018, with an average temperature of 22.3°C (72.1°F). The average daily high was 29.3°C (84.7°F), and there were 11 days above 30°C (86°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 35°C (95°F) on August 3, 1982. This is also the national record for August. The September record high is a national record too. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -28°C (-18.4°F) in January 1987. This was the coldest month on record. The first overnight freeze in autumn usually happens around October 13.

Climate data for Drammen 1991–2020 (8 m, avg high/low 2010–2019, extremes 1966–2020 includes earlier station)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.8 (56.8)	14.6 (58.3)	21.7 (71.1)	24.3 (75.7)	30.5 (86.9)	34 (93)	33.8 (92.8)	35 (95)	28.6 (83.5)	23.2 (73.8)	17.4 (63.3)	14.1 (57.4)	35 (95)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−1.6 (29.1)	0.8 (33.4)	6.8 (44.2)	12.4 (54.3)	17.7 (63.9)	21.4 (70.5)	24.1 (75.4)	21.7 (71.1)	17.5 (63.5)	10.6 (51.1)	4.2 (39.6)	0.4 (32.7)	11.3 (52.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.3 (26.1)	−2.4 (27.7)	1.3 (34.3)	6.1 (43.0)	11.2 (52.2)	15.3 (59.5)	18 (64)	16.4 (61.5)	11.9 (53.4)	5.8 (42.4)	1.7 (35.1)	−2.6 (27.3)	6.6 (43.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.6 (18.3)	−6.1 (21.0)	−2.9 (26.8)	1.1 (34.0)	6.4 (43.5)	10.5 (50.9)	13.1 (55.6)	11.6 (52.9)	8.4 (47.1)	3.2 (37.8)	−1.1 (30.0)	−5.8 (21.6)	2.6 (36.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−28 (−18)	−26.6 (−15.9)	−21.9 (−7.4)	−8.1 (17.4)	−3 (27)	1.4 (34.5)	5.2 (41.4)	3.6 (38.5)	−2.5 (27.5)	−9.2 (15.4)	−17.2 (1.0)	−24 (−11)	−28 (−18)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	59.4 (2.34)	45.7 (1.80)	43.2 (1.70)	46.4 (1.83)	64.9 (2.56)	73.3 (2.89)	72.4 (2.85)	89.3 (3.52)	78.1 (3.07)	89.1 (3.51)	82.7 (3.26)	64.1 (2.52)	808.6 (31.85)
Source 1: eklima.no (extremes) = eklima>
Source 2: yr.no (mean, precipitaiton)

People of Drammen: Demographics

Drammen is a diverse city. As of 2022, about 29 percent of the people in Drammen are immigrants or Norwegian-born with immigrant parents. This means many different cultures and backgrounds make up the city's population.

Fun Places to Visit in Drammen

Aass Brewery

Øvre Sund Bridge

Drammens Museum

Drammen Theater

Drammen seen from Nordbykollen

Aass Brewery

Aass Brewery is the oldest brewery in Norway that is still running. It is known for its beer and its well-preserved building. The brewery started in 1834. Today, it mainly makes soft drinks, beer, and aquavit.

Bridges of Drammen

Drammen has several important bridges that cross the Drammenselva river:

Øvre Sund Bridge (Øvre Sund bru) – This bridge crosses the river in the center of Drammen.
Drammen City Bridge (Drammensbrua bybro) – The original concrete bridge, built in 1936, was taken down in 2022. A new city bridge is being built in the same spot and will open in autumn 2025. A temporary bridge is available for people walking.
Drammen Bridge (Drammensbrua) – This is a large motorway bridge on E18. It crosses the Drammenselva and was built in 1971.
Ypsilon Bridge (Ypsilon bru) – This is a special pedestrian bridge over the Drammenselva. It has cables holding it up and was built in 2007.
Holmen bridges (Holmenbruene) – These are two railway bridges on the Drammen Line.
Nedre Eiker Bridge (Nedre Eiker bru) – This bridge crosses the river further upstream. It connects the towns of Krokstadelva and Mjøndalen.
Mjøndalsbrua – This old bridge between Mjøndalen and Krokstadelva was built in 1910 for horse-drawn carriages.

Drammen Museum

The Drammen Museum of Art and Cultural History is a great place to learn about the area's past. It includes Marienlyst, a large house from around 1770. There's also a museum building from 1930 with permanent exhibits. The Lyche pavilion, built in 1990, has a gallery and temporary exhibits. The museum also has the Halling yard, with five old buildings, some from the 1760s. Two of the largest preserved farms in Drammen, Gulskogen Manor and Austad farm, are also part of the museum.

Drammen Spiral

The Drammen Spiral is a unique road tunnel. It spirals upwards inside a mountain, letting you reach the Skansen Ridge. This ridge is 180 meters (590 feet) above the town. The tunnel opened in 1961 and was built where an old quarry used to be.

Drammen Theater

Drammen Theater in Bragernes was built in 1869. It was designed by architect Emil Victor Langlet. This theater was the first modern theater in Norway. It had a detailed Renaissance style with balanced fronts and rounded windows. In December 1993, the Drammen Theater was completely destroyed by fire. But a new theater was rebuilt to look just like the original. It was finished in February 1997.

Drammensbadet

Drammensbadet is a public swimming and training center in Marienlyst, Drammen. When it opened on September 1, 2008, it was one of the biggest in Norway. It has five indoor pools and four outdoor pools.

Bragernes Torg (Town Square)

Bragernes Torg is the largest town square in Norway. It is also one of the longest in the Nordic countries. It's a great place for events and gatherings.

Drammen's Sports Clubs

The stadium for Strømsgodset Toppfotball

Drammen is home to many sports clubs, with a strong history in football, bandy, and other sports.

Strømsgodset IF and their top football team Strømsgodset Toppfotball. This club started in 1907. They have won the Norwegian Cup in football five times (1969, 1970, 1973, 1991, 2010). They also won the Norwegian football league in 1970 and 2013. In bandy, they have won six Norwegian championships.
Drammen golfklubb. This golf club started in 1988. It has an 18-hole course in the southern part of Drammen.
Drammen HK – A handball club that has played in the Men's European Champions League.
IF Hellas
IF Sturla
Konnerud IL – This sports club is well-known for its cross-country skiing facilities.
SBK Drafn – Founded in 1910, this club has won 21 Norwegian Championships in bandy. They also reached one cup final in football in 1927. Famous athletes from Drafn include Hans Bjørnstad, a World Champion ski jumper (1950), and Thorleif Haug, an Olympic Gold medallist (1924).
SBK Skiold
Drammen Bandy – This team plays in the highest division for bandy.
Drammen FK – This football club was founded in 2008.

Famous People from Drammen

Main category: People from Drammen

Drammen has been the home of many notable people who have made a difference in various fields.

Public Service & Business

Betzy Kjelsberg, 1935

Thorbjørn Jagland, 2016

Niels Treschow (1751–1833) – A philosopher, teacher, and politician.
Jørgen Herman Vogt (1784–1862) – He was the First Minister of Norway from 1856 to 1858.
Christen Smith (1785–1816) – A doctor, economist, and botanist.
Erik Børresen (1785–1860) – He owned the first Norwegian ships to sail to China.
Bent Salvesen (1787–1820) – A ship's captain who sailed from Drammen.
Bernhard Pauss (1839–1907) – A theologian, teacher, author, and humanitarian.
Henriette Wulfsberg (1843–1906) – A school owner and writer.
Gustav Jensen (1845–1922) – A priest, hymn writer, and teacher.
Anthon B. Nilsen (1855–1936) – A businessman, politician, and author.
Urban Jacob Rasmus Børresen (1857–1943) – A rear admiral and industrialist.
Betzy Kjelsberg (1866–1950) – A politician and important activist for women's rights.
Johan Aschehoug Kiær (1869–1931) – A paleontologist and geologist.
Johan Berger Mathiesen (1872–1923) – A surgeon.
Arnold Maria Hansson (1889–1981) – A forestry administrator in New Zealand.
Konrad Knudsen (1890–1959) – A painter and journalist who hosted Leon Trotsky.
Henning Bødtker (1891–1975) – A lawyer who was the Attorney General of Norway.
Odd Dahl (1898–1994) – An engineer, nuclear physics researcher, and explorer.
Arnfinn Vik (1901–1990) – A politician who was Mayor of Oslo.
Henry Wilhelm Kristiansen (1902–1942) – A politician.
Asbjørn Bryhn (1906–1990) – Head of the Norwegian Police Security Service.
Thorstein Treholt (1911–1993) – A politician.
Lars Korvald (1916–2006) – A politician who was Prime Minister of Norway.
Astrid Bjellebø Bayegan (born 1943) – The first female dean in Norway.
Svein Rennemo (born 1947) – A businessperson and chair of Statoil.
Thorbjørn Jagland (born 1950) – He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997.
Per-Erik Burud (1962–2011) – A Norwegian businessman who led the grocery chain Kiwi.

The Arts

Peter Nicolai Arbo, 1874

Katharina Nuttall, 2010

Hanna Winsnes (1789–1872) – A poet, novelist, and cookbook writer.
Martinus Rørbye (1803–1848) – A Danish Golden Age painter.
Peter Nicolai Arbo (1831–1892) – A painter known for history and Norse mythology.
Christian Cappelen (1845–1916) – A Norwegian organist and composer.
Hans Heyerdahl (1857–1913) – A realist painter.
Johan Halvorsen (1864–1935) – A Norwegian composer, conductor, and violinist.
Barbra Ring (1870–1955) – A novelist, short story writer, and theater critic.
Herman Wildenvey (1885–1959) – A famous Norwegian poet.
Lalla Carlsen (1889–1967) – A Norwegian singer and actress.
Kai Fjell (1907–1989) – A painter, printmaker, and set designer.
Jens Gunderssen (1912–1969) – A singer, songwriter, actor, and theater director.
Eivind Lund (1914–1984) – A Norwegian painter.
Solveig Christov (1918–1984) – A writer of short stories, novels, and plays.
Sverre Holm (1931–2005) – A Norwegian stage and film actor.
Triztán Vindtorn (1942–2009) – A poet and performance artist.
Lars Klevstrand (born 1949) – A singer, guitarist, composer, and actor.
Herodes Falsk (born 1954) – A comedian, actor, author, and songwriter.
Katharina Nuttall (born 1972) – An artist, film composer, and music producer.
Todd Terje (born 1981) – A Norwegian DJ, songwriter, and record producer.

Sport

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, 2007

Thorleif Haug (1894–1934) – Won three gold medals in Nordic skiing at the 1924 Winter Olympics.
Charles Mathiesen (1911–1994) – Won a gold medal in speed skating at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
Johan Haanes (1912–2000) – A tennis player, ski jumper, and track and field athlete.
Finn Helgesen (1919–2011) – A speed skater who won a gold medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics.
Arne Bergodd (born 1948) – A rower who won a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Arne Dokken (born 1955) – A footballer who played many games for clubs and for the Norwegian national team.
Svend Karlsen (born 1967) – A former strongman, powerlifter, and bodybuilder.
Johann Olav Koss (born 1968) – A speed skater who won four Olympic gold medals.
Glenn Solberg (born 1972) – A handball coach and former player for the Norwegian national team.
Heidi Tjugum (born 1973) – A team handball player who won two Olympic medals.
Ole Einar Bjørndalen (born 1974) – A retired biathlete who won 13 Winter Olympics medals.
Adnan Haidar (born 1989) – A footballer who has played many games for clubs and for the Lebanese national team.
Martin Ødegaard (born 1998) – A footballer with many club appearances, captain of Norway and the captain of Arsenal.
Kristian Krogh Johannessen (born 1995) – A professional golfer who represented Norway at the 2021 Olympics.
Hakon Lagerqvist (born 1970) – A local skier known for his descents and skiing achievements.

Drammen's Sister Cities

Drammen has special connections with other cities around the world, called twin towns or sister cities. These connections help promote cultural exchange and friendship.