Naturhistorisk museum

About the museum

The Natural History Museum is Norway's largest natural history museum and part of the University of Oslo. The museum has six million natural science objects and over 750,000 visitors every year, of whom about 200,000 come to the indoor exhibitions. Research, management of the collections and communication of biodiversity are the main tasks.

The history at Tøyen goes back to 1812, when King Frederick VI gave the Tøyen estate to Norway's new university. The Botanical Garden was established in 1814, and the first exhibition greenhouses were built in 1817–1819. Around 1900 the university's collections had become too large for the buildings in the city centre, and the Storting (parliament) allocated money for new buildings at Tøyen. The Zoological Museum was built in 1904–1908 and opened to the public in 1910, the Botanical Museum in 1908–1913 and the Geological Museum in 1911–1917.

Today the museum consists of the Botanical Garden and the museum buildings at Tøyen, which house exhibitions, collection stores and offices. The exhibitions are in Brøggers hus, Collets hus, the Klimahuset (Climate House) and the Botanical Garden, and the themes range from the development of life, Norwegian animals and the animals of the world, to the Crystal Cave, minerals and rocks, climate change and threats to biodiversity. The Botanical Garden has free admission for everyone.

Highlights

• The exhibition Livets utvikling (The Development of Life)
• The exhibitions Norske dyr (Norwegian Animals) and Verdens dyr (Animals of the World)
• The Crystal Cave and the exhibition on minerals and rocks
• The Klimahuset with the exhibition Vi står i det nå (We Are in the Now)
• The Botanical Garden with free admission, Pilehagen (Willow Garden), Klimahagen (Climate Garden) and Steinhagen (Stone Garden)
• Natural history library for children and families

Permanent exhibitions

• Livets utvikling – Permanent exhibition on the development of life through natural history.
• Vi står i det nå – Exhibition in the Klimahuset on climate change.
• Krystallgrotten – Exhibition on crystals in the geological exhibitions.

Founded

1812

Operated by

Universitetet i Oslo

Admission & discounts

The Botanical Garden with its greenhouses has free admission for everyone. Free admission to the exhibitions also for refugees and asylum seekers, children's wards at hospitals and child welfare institutions, UiO staff with up to three guests, members of the museum's friends' associations, Oslo Pass holders, Frelsesarmeens aktivitetskort (the Salvation Army activity card), journalists with a press card and Oslo guides. Public guided tours several times a week are included in the ticket or free.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition buildings have a lift and a separate accessible toilet (HC toilet), except the greenhouses Palmehuset and Victoriahuset. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed at the museum shop. Large parts of the Botanical Garden can be reached by wheelchair, but some paths are steep and narrow; an accessibility map is available. Accessible parking (HC parking) outside the Botanical Garden in Monrads gate. Guide dogs and service dogs are allowed. In the exhibition Vi står i det nå in the Klimahuset there is a video projection with loud sound and flashing lights for one minute every ten minutes. The exhibitions are usually quieter at opening at 10:00 and after 14:00 on weekdays, and at 15:00 at weekends.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Weekend programme for children, baby tours and a separate programme during school holidays. The Naturhistorisk bibliotek has Lego, animal figures, jigsaw puzzles and fossils that can be touched. In the Botanical Garden children can explore Pilehagen, Klimahagen and Steinhagen. Pushchairs can normally be taken into the exhibitions, and baby carriers can be borrowed. Changing tables are in the accessible toilets in the Klimahuset, Brøggers hus and Collets hus. Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are allowed everywhere in the museum.

Getting there & parking

The museum comprises everything within the fences of the Botanical Garden, which has four entrances in Sars' gate, Jens Bjelkes gate and Monrads gate. Cycling is not allowed in the Botanical Garden; bicycle racks are by the gates in Monrads gate.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café Handwerk Botaniske in the Botanical Garden serves simple lunch dishes, baked goods and drinks. Food brought from home can be eaten in the Naturhistorisk bibliotek, on the picnic lawn or in the Hagehuset (garden house). Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Klimahuset's auditorium can be rented for meetings, activities and events. Weddings can be held in the Botanical Garden.

Plan your visit