Nordisk bibelmuseum
The first and only Bible museum in the Nordic region, in the centre of Oslo, with a collection of over 4,000 Bibles, including an original page from the Gutenberg Bible.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Nordisk bibelmuseum opened its doors on 31 May 2018 in Kvadraturen in central Oslo, between Akershus Fortress and Karl Johans gate. The museum is organised as a non-profit foundation that is run on volunteer work, private funds and gifts. The foundation is based on the collection of the collector Rune Arnhoff, which, together with other collections, has grown to over 4,000 Bibles.
The collection comprises Norwegian, Nordic and foreign Bibles. Among the rarest treasures are an edition of Gustav Vasa's Bible from 1541, an original page from a Gutenberg Bible, a Latin Bible from 1487, handwritten Bible pages from around 1250 and one of the world's smallest printed Bibles. The museum also has its own collection of over 2,500 Bibles from the 19th century onwards.
The exhibition follows the history of the Bible from the first texts on skin and parchment to today's digital Bibles. The museum shows how the book has influenced language, art, culture and society, and a guided tour is included in the admission ticket.
Highlights
- Original page from the Gutenberg Bible, the only one exhibited in Norway
- Gustav Vasa's Bible from 1541 and Christian III's Bible from 1550
- Handwritten Bible pages from the 13th century
- Miniature Bibles, including the world's smallest printed Bible
- Guided tour included in the ticket
Permanent exhibition
- Bibelsamlingen – The exhibition shows the history of the Bible, from handwritten parchment pages to printed Bibles and digital editions, with treasures such as Gustav Vasa's Bible and an original page from the Gutenberg Bible.
- Founded
- 2018
- Operated by
- Stiftelsen Nordisk bibel- og bokmuseum
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 145 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12 have free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companions of people with disabilities have free admission. |
School classes in primary school and members of ICOM and Ecsite have free admission. A guided tour is included in the ticket.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is adapted for wheelchair users and has a wheelchair lift (capacity 225 kg) from level 1 to the lower level. For blind and partially sighted people there are tactile warning strips and double handrails on the stairs, and all signs and posters are available as audio recordings in Norwegian, English and Spanish. Interpreters into English, Polish, German and sign language can be booked for guided tours.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
Children under 12 and school classes in primary school have free admission.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available · 5-min walk to the entrance
Bankplassen car park is about five minutes' walk from the museum.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Online shop, and books and other products can be bought in the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The main tour lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes and is held regularly on Tuesday at 13:30 and 15:30, Wednesday at 12:00, Thursday at 12:00 and 14:00, Friday at 11:30 and 14:00, and Saturday at 11:30 and 13:30. The tour “3500 års historie på 35 minutter” is held on Tuesday at 12:30, Thursday at 11:00 and Saturday at 15:00. Themed tours on, among other things, the King James Bible, art and the Bible, and the history of the Swedish Bible can be booked at post@nobimu.no or by telephone on 401 05 777. The museum also has a 360-degree virtual museum online. |
