Rasmus Meyer
Art museum in Bergen with Kode's collection of Norwegian Golden Age art and one of the world's largest Munch collections, in a building from 1924.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Rasmus Meyer was a businessman from Bergen who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, built up a large collection of Norwegian art. He bought many major works by the artists of his time and dreamed of a public building where the collection could be shown to a broad audience. Meyer died in 1916, and his heirs handed the collection over to Bergen municipality on condition that the municipality build a separate museum for it.
The building was designed by the architect Ole Landmark and completed in 1924. The collection is displayed over two floors in a series of smaller rooms, with paintings from the Norwegian Golden Age around 1880–1905 and onwards towards 1920. Among the artists are J.C. Dahl, Hans Gude, Harriet Backer, Christian Krohg, Kitty Kielland, Nikolai Astrup and Erik Werenskiold, as well as the Matisse pupils Henrik Sørensen and Jean Heiberg.
Meyer was one of the first important collectors of Edvard Munch, and the collection in Bergen is today regarded as the third largest in the world. It consists of over 100 works on paper and 50 paintings, with major works from all periods of Munch's artistic career, among them “Jealousy”, “Melancholy”, “The Woman in Three Stages” and “Evening on Karl Johan”. The museum also shows a historic Bergen interior and the Blumenthal room, with ceiling and wall paintings from around 1760. Rasmus Meyer is today part of Kode, which manages the art museums and composer homes in Bergen.
Highlights
- Munch collection with over 100 works on paper and 50 paintings
- Norwegian Golden Age 1880–1905 with J.C. Dahl, Christian Krohg and Harriet Backer
- Blumenthal room with ceiling and wall paintings from around 1760
- Historic Bergen interior
- Museum building from 1924 designed by Ole Landmark
Permanent exhibitions
- Edvard Munch og Rasmus Meyers samlinger – Highlights of Norwegian art history 1850–1916 with works by J.C. Dahl, Christian Krohg, Harriet Backer and Nikolai Astrup, as well as Munch's Frieze of Life.
- Blumenthal-rommet og bergensinteriøret – Historic interior from Bergen and a room with ceiling and wall paintings from around 1760.
- Founded
- 1924
- Operated by
- Kode – Kunstmuseer og komponisthjem
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 200 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children under 18 have free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Companion certificates are accepted. |
| Students & apprentices | –Students at KMD, KIB, BAS and in art history at UiB always have free admission. Under 30, one can become a Kode ung member. |
| Groups | –Group discount by arrangement. |
| Kode ung membership (under 30) | NOK 350 |
The ticket applies to all of Kode's art museums. Kode members, teachers and holders of the Kode Åpen card have free admission. The Bergenskort gives free admission from October to April and a 25% discount from May to September. Some art museums and organisations give free admission to their members.
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
The art museums are adapted for people with reduced mobility, either with direct access via a ramp or with a wheelchair lift. There are lifts in all buildings, accessible toilets (HC toilets) in all buildings, and marked parking spaces just outside Rasmus Meyer. Guide dogs are allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Kode offers creative family workshops at weekends and during school holidays, family tours and activity booklets in several exhibitions. Baby carriers and prams can be borrowed free of charge at the reception, but a private pram cannot be taken into the exhibitions.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Byparken
The art museums are located at Festplassen, a short walk from the railway station, Bergen bus station and the Bybanen (light rail) stops Byparken and Nonneseter.
By car
Parking available
Several car parks nearby; the nearest is GriegGarasjen at Lars Hilles gate 3. Marked disabled parking spaces just outside the museum.
- Accessible parking
Lysverket, Rasmus Meyer and Stenersen lie in a row along Rasmus Meyers allé beside Lille Lungegårdsvann. From Torgallmenningen, Permanenten is nearest; from the railway or bus station, Lysverket is nearest.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Small museum shop at the reception with catalogues, books, cloth bags and goods with motifs by Edvard Munch, J.C. Dahl and Nikolai Astrup. The restaurants Bien Centro (Permanenten) and Lysverket are in the neighbouring buildings. Bags larger than 30×35×10 cm, backpacks and umbrellas must be locked in cloakroom lockers.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private photography is permitted with a handheld camera without flash. Commercial recordings and press photos are arranged with the museum's communications department. |
| Good to know | Audio guides for the exhibitions can be borrowed free of charge. Groups can book a guided tour or visit the museum on their own. Free visits for nurseries and schools by advance booking. Food and drink may not be taken into the exhibitions, and animals are not admitted apart from guide dogs. |
