Blaafarveværket

About the museum

Blaafarveværket was founded in 1776 as a royal works for extracting and processing cobalt. From the ore, smalt and cobalt blue were produced, a blue pigment that was sold across much of the world. After Wilhelm Christian Benecke and Benjamin Wegner took over in 1822, the works became Norway's largest mining enterprise and employer, with over 2,000 employees.

The business went bankrupt in 1849, pigment production ceased in 1857, and mining continued until 1898. The Malmveien (Ore Road), built in 1836 to carry ore from the mines down to the works, was in its day one of the country's busiest roads.

Today the site is run by Stiftelsen Modums Blaafarveværk as an open-air museum, art gallery and cultural landscape. Visitors can take guided tours of the Koboltgruvene, see Norway's largest collection of original works by Theodor Kittelsen, visit the preserved buildings at Nyfossum and Nymoen and see the major art exhibition at the Værket (the works). In 2026 the site celebrated 250 years.

Highlights

• Historic mine tour in the Koboltgruvene with a glass floor and a 32-metre-long suspension bridge underground
• Kittelsen-museet with Norway's largest collection of original works by Theodor Kittelsen
• Art exhibition at the Værket, held every summer and one of the country's best known
• Nyfossum and Nymoen with the director's house, workers' house, school and the Ida Lorentzen Museum
• Barnas Bondegård (children's farm), culture trails and playground

Permanent exhibitions

• Kittelsen-museet – Museum in a former workers' dwelling by the Koboltgruvene with Norway's largest collection of original works by Theodor Kittelsen.
• Gruvemuseene – Exhibitions on the mining operations and the work in the Koboltgruvene.
• Direktørboligen Nyfossum – Preserved director's house from the time of the works, at Nyfossum.

Operated by

Stiftelsen Modums Blaafarveværk

Admission & discounts

The park areas, Nyfossum and the Kittelsen-museet at the Koboltgruvene have free admission, and parking is free. A ticket is required for guided mine tours and for the art exhibition at the Værket. Tickets for the art exhibition are bought on site, and tickets for mine tours at blaa.no. Prices for mine tours in 2027 will be published on blaa.no. Children under 15 have free admission to the art exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The historic mine tour at the Koboltgruvene is adapted for wheelchair users, and the Gruvekroa and Bødtkerkroa are universally designed. There is a lift to the art exhibition at the Blaafarveværket. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Koboltgruvene and at the Blaafarveværket. Old, protected buildings and the terrain make accommodation difficult in some places. Dogs are not allowed indoors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Barnas Gruvetur, Barnas Buldrehule (a climbing course in a cave) and Barnas Snekkerverksted (children's carpentry workshop) at the Koboltgruvene; culture trails where the Blaafarveværket Rundt crosses the river on a raft. Barnas Bondegård by the car park at the Værket has calves, goats, pigs, rabbits, hens and ducks. Playground with slide and sandpit, places to eat with children's menus, and warming of children's porridge.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Modum, about one hour's drive from Oslo.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Thranestua café at Haugfoss, the Gruvekroa at the Koboltgruvene and the Bødtkerkroa at the Værket. There are museum shops.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit