Norsk barnemuseum

About the museum

Norsk barnemuseum opened in 2001 and turns 25 in 2026. The museum is housed in Stavanger museum at Muségata, an old, protected museum building a little outside the centre, and is part of MUST – Museum Stavanger. The ticket therefore applies to the whole house, which also contains natural history and cultural history exhibitions.

The exhibitions look at how children have lived and played in Norway at different times. “Barndom på 60-tallet” (Childhood in the 1960s) asks what was expected of boys and girls and what the relationship between adults and children was like, while “Leketøy forteller” (Toys Tell Stories) shows toys that carry stories about the factories and shops they came from. “Eventyrborgen” (The Fairy-Tale Castle) is a play environment where children can dress up, put on puppet shows and build, and there is also a small exhibition from Stavanger skolemuseum (Stavanger Schools Museum).

Outside the museum is a cultural-history play park with fifteen toys and games from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Stavanger museum is also known for its natural history, including the whale skeleton and the bird collection, and for the exhibition “Mitt Stavanger” (My Stavanger).

Highlights

• Eventyrborgen with dressing up and puppet theatre
• The exhibition “Barndom på 60-tallet” (Childhood in the 1960s)
• “Leketøy forteller” about the history of toys
• Outdoor cultural-history play park
• The whale skeleton and natural history at Stavanger museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Barndom på 60-tallet – Exhibition on what it was like to grow up in Norway in the 1960s, on family life, roles and the relationship between children and adults.
• Eventyrborgen – Play environment in a castle with well-known fairy-tale characters, with dressing up, puppet theatre and a workshop, and a small exhibition from Stavanger skolemuseum.
• Leketøy forteller – Exhibition in which toys tell the story of the factories, shops and society they were part of.

Founded

2001

Operated by

MUST – Museum Stavanger

Admission & discounts

One ticket gives admission to all open MUST museums on the same day. 25 per cent discount with Aftenbladet Fordel. Annual pass holders get 20 per cent off in the museum shop.

Accessibility

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

Old building that does not fully meet modern requirements for universal design. Wheelchair users use the ground-level entrance to the left of the main staircase. Two lifts serve all floors from the basement to the third floor, and one wheelchair can be borrowed. In the exhibition “Vår natur” (Our Nature) visitors can touch some of the animals. An audio piece in “Mitt Stavanger” may be experienced as loud by some people.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Prams may be taken into the foyer and café, but not into the exhibitions, for fire-safety reasons; prams are parked in the cloakroom or café, and the museum lends pushchairs and baby carriers. Eventyrborgen is a play environment for the smallest children, and the museum holds special events such as a baby café.

Getting there & parking

About 5 minutes by bike from the city centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

The museum café in Fuglesalen (the Bird Hall) and the Bjørnekafeen serve coffee, ice cream and simple food, and food and drink (not alcohol) brought from outside may be enjoyed there. The shop and café can be visited without a ticket during opening hours.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Fuglesalen can be hired for meetings, parties and events.

Plan your visit