Kistefos-Museet

About the museum

Kistefos is located on the historic site of Kistefos Træsliperi A/S, which Anders Sveaas founded in 1889. The factory produced wood pulp until the mid-1950s and was an important part of Norwegian industrial history. In 1996 Kistefos was established as a museum by Anders Sveaas’ grandson, Christen Sveaas, who wanted to preserve and carry on the family’s heritage.

The industrial museum today contains Scandinavia’s best-preserved wood pulp mill, where the historic factory buildings and the original machines show how timber became wood pulp. In the interactive exhibition Forvandlinger, children and young people can discover, experiment and learn through play.

The sculpture park is expanded every year with one or more sculptures and today has over 60 works by contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Fernando Botero, Claes Oldenburg, Olafur Eliasson, Anish Kapoor, Jeppe Hein, Tony Cragg and Elmgreen & Dragset. Many of them were made especially for the site. The Twist, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, is a gallery, bridge and sculpture in one and spans 60 metres over the Randselva river. Nybruket Galleri also shows art, and a new visitor centre by Lund Hagem Arkitekter houses a café and shop.

Highlights

• The sculpture park with over 60 works
• The Twist – gallery bridge over the Randselva designed by BIG
• Scandinavia’s best-preserved wood pulp mill
• Veien til stillhet by Jeppe Hein
• Forvandlinger – interactive exhibition for children
• Kistefos Kafé and the museum shop Smia

Permanent exhibitions

• Skulpturparken – Over 60 sculptures by contemporary artists in scenic surroundings along the Randselva, accessible all year round.
• Industrimuseet og tresliperiet – Scandinavia’s best-preserved wood pulp mill with original machines, and the interactive exhibition Forvandlinger for children and young people.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Kistefos AS

Admission & discounts

The ticket applies to the whole park and all the exhibition spaces. Residents of Jevnaker, Lunner, Nittedal and Gran have free admission through the Sparebankstiftelsene (savings bank foundations) and must state their name, email address and place of residence at the entrance. Separate terms apply to groups, operators and pre-booked visits.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Kistefos is a large natural area of 250 mål (a traditional Norwegian unit of area) with hilly terrain and gravel paths, and some slopes may be challenging for wheelchair users. People with reduced mobility are recommended to arrive from the South Entrance (Inngang Sør, Kistefossveien 112), where the terrain is gentler. Accessible (HC) toilets are in The Twist and at the café area, and both car parks have accessible (HC) spaces.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Children can run freely in the park, and several artworks are interactive. An activity map is available at both entrances, and by the café area there is an activity park with climbing equipment. In the Industrimuseet there is a jumping pit and a hamster wheel for the youngest, and the water maze Veien til stillhet is a children’s favourite in summer.

Getting there & parking

Kistefos is located in Jevnaker, about an hour’s drive from Oslo and Gardermoen. Visitors from Oslo and the surrounding area are recommended to arrive via the South Entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Kistefos Kafé in the visitor centre and a café in the middle of the sculpture park, with menus based on local ingredients. The museum shops are in the visitor centre and in Smia. On warm days ice cream and drinks are sold at the sculpture Veien til stillhet. Food you bring must be eaten outside the café area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Hire and events.

Plan your visit