Nærbø
Encyclopedia
Nærbø is the biggest village in the municipality of Hå
, situated in the southern corner of the region of Rogaland
. According to the Norwegian
bureau of statistics the population of Nærbø was 5881 on January 1, 2009. The former municipality of Nærbø was merged with the municipality of Hå on January 1, 1964.
. It is bordered by the village of Varhaug
in the south, by the North Sea
to the west, the city of Bryne
to the north, and hills and meadows to the east.
A train line, Jærbanen
, runs from Stavanger in the north to Egersund
in the south and passes through the village. A train station is located in the village centre. The RV 44, a major thoroughfare also passes Nærbø on the western side of the village.
The municipality of Hå is one the most important agricultural areas of Norway
with almost half of the land in the municipality being used for agricultural purposes. The area is sometimes referred to as the breadbasket of Norway because of its large agricultural sector.
The name Nærbø dates back to 1834 when the two local church congregations of Njærheim and Bø
were amalgamated and the inauguration of the new church at Skjærpe took place.
In 3000 B.C. the area was covered by large oak and pine forests. It is also during that time that people started to settle down and farm the land. The transition from hunting to agriculture led to the clearing of most of the forests.
The region also played an important part in the Viking age
(eight to eleventh century). Nærbø is 35 kilometers south of Hafrsfjord, where In 872 the battle of Hafrsfjord
took place. The western parts of Norway were unified under one monarch after this battle
In 950 Erik the Red
, founder of the first Norse settlement in Greenland
was born in øksnevad 17 kilometers north of Nærbø. Erik the Red was also the father of the famous Viking explorer Leiv Erikson, who was the first European to set foot on the American mainland in 1003.
In 968 Olav Trygvason, king of Norway from 995 to 1000 was born in Obrestad
just outside the village of Nærbø. Olav Trygvason played a big part in bringing Christianity
to Norway and is believed to have built the first church in Norway in 995. He also founded the city of Trondheim
in 997.
In 1349 the black plague killed nearly 2/3 of the population in the area.
In 1834 the village was given its present day name, which coincided with the inauguration of the new church.
In 1878 the Jærbanen
rail line was completed.
In 1940 the Germans
invaded Norway and large areas of the coastline of Jæren
was lined with high explosive mines. The Germans forced many of the Norwegian males in the area to work as laboures for the German occupying forces.
and Norvegia
cheeses, in addition to other dairy products. The dairy employs 64 people.
The Risa group (formerly Brødrene Risa) is run from Nærbø and has several facilities in Nærbø.
The village also has an abattoir and local shopping centers.
Because of Nærbø close proximity to the cities of Sandnes
and Stavanger
, it has attracted many new inhabitants from these two cities. This is mainly due to more affordable real estate prices in Nærbø, and a relatively short commute between Nærbø and Sandnes/Stavanger. Stavanger is approximately 35 kilometers away from Nærbø, and Sandnes 25 kilometers.
There are four elementary schools in Nærbø (Motland skule, Bø skule, Vigre skule, Høyland skule), and a high school (Nærbø Ungdomsskule). There is also a private Christian high school & College (Tryggheim) in the village.
coasts. The climate is classified as maritime mild, and the flat open landscape makes the village a rather windy place. Up until the mid eighties the village experienced relatively heavy snowfalls, and the snow tended to stay on the ground throughout the winter months. But due to rising temperatures in the last two decades, heavy snowfalls have become less frequent.
Grødelandstunet is located to the south west of Nærbø near the coast, and is a traditional farm house that has been turned into a museum. The purpose of the museum is to give visitors an idea of how people in the region used to live in earlier times.
Because of Nærbø close proximity to the North Sea the village is blessed with easy access to several beaches, which are popular destinations for the local population during the summer months. The largest beach in Norway, Brusand
beach, is only a 15 minute drive away. The beaches are also popular with surfers and are considered to be some of the better spots in Europe for wave surfing due to the rough seas the area experiences in the autumn and the winter months.
The Nærbø Park is located about half a kilometer away from the village centre. It contains a big man-made pond, a pine forest and several footpaths. The park is known for its exotic bird population.
The Hå River which flows through the Hå municipality is one of the best salmon rivers in the country and attracts many visitors each year. Special fishing permits can be bought from the local farmers that own the various sections of the river. One also need to pay the National fishing licence to The Directorate for Nature Management.
Obrestad lighthouse
is located to the south west of the village. It was built in 1873 and renovated in 1949. Today it is fully automated and owned by the Norwegian coastal administration. The lighthouse is protected by the Cultural Heritage Act. The lighthouse is open to the public through guided tours. There is also a marina in the area sheltered by a man-made jetty. There is also a weather station at the light house. On June 2, 1975, a minimum temperature of -0.9°C was recorded. This is the lowest temperature recorded for the month of June in Rogaland.
In 2006 one of the formula 3 cars came crashing over one of the concrete guard blocks lining the outer perimeter of the track and smashed into the crowd, killing a 16 year old spectator. Many feared that this would be the end of the event, but stricter security measures have been introduced and approvals have been granted for future festivals.
. More than 850 locals were involved in the building process and almost 15 000 working hours were invested to achieve this goal. Two years later the new administration centre was finally inaugurated.
Hå
Hå is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Hå is the southernmost municipality in the district Jæren.The parish of Haa was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . It was divided into Nærbø and Varhaug in 1894. The municipality of Hå was created after the merger of Nærbø, Varhaug,...
, situated in the southern corner of the region of Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
. According to the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
bureau of statistics the population of Nærbø was 5881 on January 1, 2009. The former municipality of Nærbø was merged with the municipality of Hå on January 1, 1964.
Overview
Nærbø is approximately 35 kilometers south of Norway’s fourth most populous city, StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. It is bordered by the village of Varhaug
Varhaug
Varhaug is a village in the district of Jæren, Norway and is the administrative centre and the second largest village in Hå municipality. It was also the administrative centre for the former municipality Varhaug. It was founded in the late 19th century and expanded around the local train station in...
in the south, by the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
to the west, the city of Bryne
Bryne
Bryne is a city, located in, and the administrative centre of, the municipality of Time, Norway. Bryne is located about 25 minutes south of Stavanger by train. The area of Bryne is 4,79 km²....
to the north, and hills and meadows to the east.
A train line, Jærbanen
Jærbanen
The Jæren Line long railway line between Stavanger and Egersund, in Jæren, Norway. The line is officially the western-most part of the Sørland Line. Owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration, the line has double track from Stavanger Station to Sandnes Station, and single track from...
, runs from Stavanger in the north to Egersund
Egersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
in the south and passes through the village. A train station is located in the village centre. The RV 44, a major thoroughfare also passes Nærbø on the western side of the village.
The municipality of Hå is one the most important agricultural areas of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
with almost half of the land in the municipality being used for agricultural purposes. The area is sometimes referred to as the breadbasket of Norway because of its large agricultural sector.
The name Nærbø dates back to 1834 when the two local church congregations of Njærheim and Bø
Bø
Bø may refer to the following locations in Norway:*Bø, Nordland, a municipality in Nordland*Bø, Telemark, a municipality in Telemark*Bø, Hordaland, a former municipality in Hordaland*Bø, Andøy in Andøy municipality, Nordland...
were amalgamated and the inauguration of the new church at Skjærpe took place.
History
Archaeologists have found traces of human activity dating back as far as 6000 years B.C in the area. Most of these findings have been in the vicinity of the Hå River, which flows from the hills in the east of the municipality to the ocean in the west. These early inhabitants were mostly hunters that survived on fishing and small game hunting.In 3000 B.C. the area was covered by large oak and pine forests. It is also during that time that people started to settle down and farm the land. The transition from hunting to agriculture led to the clearing of most of the forests.
The region also played an important part in the Viking age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
(eight to eleventh century). Nærbø is 35 kilometers south of Hafrsfjord, where In 872 the battle of Hafrsfjord
Battle of Hafrsfjord
The Battle of Hafrsfjord has traditionally been regarded as the battle in which western Norway for the first time was unified under one monarch.The national monument of Haraldshaugen was raised in 1872, to commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord...
took place. The western parts of Norway were unified under one monarch after this battle
In 950 Erik the Red
Erik the Red
Erik Thorvaldsson , known as Erik the Red , is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Nordic settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, he therefore...
, founder of the first Norse settlement in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
was born in øksnevad 17 kilometers north of Nærbø. Erik the Red was also the father of the famous Viking explorer Leiv Erikson, who was the first European to set foot on the American mainland in 1003.
In 968 Olav Trygvason, king of Norway from 995 to 1000 was born in Obrestad
Obrestad
Obrestad is an area and a farm located in Hå municipality in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway. The farm faces the North Sea. Obrestad is also a surname and a place name.A sea rescue station for seafarers was established at Obrestad in 1854...
just outside the village of Nærbø. Olav Trygvason played a big part in bringing Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
to Norway and is believed to have built the first church in Norway in 995. He also founded the city of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
in 997.
In 1349 the black plague killed nearly 2/3 of the population in the area.
In 1834 the village was given its present day name, which coincided with the inauguration of the new church.
In 1878 the Jærbanen
Jærbanen
The Jæren Line long railway line between Stavanger and Egersund, in Jæren, Norway. The line is officially the western-most part of the Sørland Line. Owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration, the line has double track from Stavanger Station to Sandnes Station, and single track from...
rail line was completed.
In 1940 the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
invaded Norway and large areas of the coastline of Jæren
Jæren
Jæren is a traditional district in the county of Rogaland. The others are Dalane, Ryfylke and Haugalandet.Jæren is the largest flat lowland area in Norway, stretching from the municipality of Randaberg in the north to Hå in the south. The coast is flat compared to the rest of the Norwegian coast,...
was lined with high explosive mines. The Germans forced many of the Norwegian males in the area to work as laboures for the German occupying forces.
Economy
The region is an important agricultural area and subsequently a great proportion of the inhabitants are employed in the agricultural sector. The village has one of Norway's biggest dairies which produces 82,2 million litres of milk each year. The dairy also makes the famous JarlsbergJarlsberg
Jarlsberg was a former county which forms part of Vestfold county in Norway. The former counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik were merged in 1821...
and Norvegia
Norvegia
Norvegia is a registered trademark of the Norwegian dairy company Tine. Norvegia is used as a cheese brand and is the biggest selling cheese in Norway as of 2007. Norvegia is a kind of Gouda, while its recipe details remain a trade secret of Tine.-External links:*...
cheeses, in addition to other dairy products. The dairy employs 64 people.
The Risa group (formerly Brødrene Risa) is run from Nærbø and has several facilities in Nærbø.
The village also has an abattoir and local shopping centers.
Because of Nærbø close proximity to the cities of Sandnes
Sandnes
is a city and municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the region of Jæren.-History:Sandnes was separated from Høyland as a municipality of its own in 1860, and gained city status the same year...
and Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, it has attracted many new inhabitants from these two cities. This is mainly due to more affordable real estate prices in Nærbø, and a relatively short commute between Nærbø and Sandnes/Stavanger. Stavanger is approximately 35 kilometers away from Nærbø, and Sandnes 25 kilometers.
There are four elementary schools in Nærbø (Motland skule, Bø skule, Vigre skule, Høyland skule), and a high school (Nærbø Ungdomsskule). There is also a private Christian high school & College (Tryggheim) in the village.
Climate
The village centre is located approximately 4 kilometers from the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coasts. The climate is classified as maritime mild, and the flat open landscape makes the village a rather windy place. Up until the mid eighties the village experienced relatively heavy snowfalls, and the snow tended to stay on the ground throughout the winter months. But due to rising temperatures in the last two decades, heavy snowfalls have become less frequent.
Åna kretsfengsel
One of the largest prisons in Norway, Åna kretsfengsel, which was originally built as a labor camp in 1912, but later converted into an ordinary prison, is located approximately 3 kilometers south of the village center. The prison has a total capacity of 164 inmates, including a low security wing with a capacity to house 24 inmates. The prison is surrounded by farmland and has one of Norway’s biggest farms.Places of interest
The Hå Vicarage was built in 1637 and is located to the west of the village and overlooks the North Sea. It has been fully renovated and these days it’s used as an art gallery. There's also a museum on the ground floor. The landscape surrounding the Vicarage has several Viking burial mounds.Grødelandstunet is located to the south west of Nærbø near the coast, and is a traditional farm house that has been turned into a museum. The purpose of the museum is to give visitors an idea of how people in the region used to live in earlier times.
Because of Nærbø close proximity to the North Sea the village is blessed with easy access to several beaches, which are popular destinations for the local population during the summer months. The largest beach in Norway, Brusand
Brusand
Brusand is a village in the municipality of Hå, Norway. Its population is 384.Brusand is a train station on Jærbanen. Only local trains stop at Brusand ....
beach, is only a 15 minute drive away. The beaches are also popular with surfers and are considered to be some of the better spots in Europe for wave surfing due to the rough seas the area experiences in the autumn and the winter months.
The Nærbø Park is located about half a kilometer away from the village centre. It contains a big man-made pond, a pine forest and several footpaths. The park is known for its exotic bird population.
The Hå River which flows through the Hå municipality is one of the best salmon rivers in the country and attracts many visitors each year. Special fishing permits can be bought from the local farmers that own the various sections of the river. One also need to pay the National fishing licence to The Directorate for Nature Management.
Obrestad lighthouse
Obrestad Lighthouse
Obrestad Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse located at Obrestad in Hå, Norway. It was established in 1873 and automated in 1991, and has been a protected building since 2000....
is located to the south west of the village. It was built in 1873 and renovated in 1949. Today it is fully automated and owned by the Norwegian coastal administration. The lighthouse is protected by the Cultural Heritage Act. The lighthouse is open to the public through guided tours. There is also a marina in the area sheltered by a man-made jetty. There is also a weather station at the light house. On June 2, 1975, a minimum temperature of -0.9°C was recorded. This is the lowest temperature recorded for the month of June in Rogaland.
Nærbø Motorfestival
Nærbø is the only place in Norway which hosts an annual Formula 3 race. The race takes place on the streets of the village centre. The track is approximately 1200 meters long and ranges from 6 to 8 meters in width. The festival started in 1997 and has been a popular event ever since, attracting people from all over the country. Speeds in excess of 200 kilometers an hour has been reached on several occasions. The event has been referred to by the locals as a miniature version of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix.In 2006 one of the formula 3 cars came crashing over one of the concrete guard blocks lining the outer perimeter of the track and smashed into the crowd, killing a 16 year old spectator. Many feared that this would be the end of the event, but stricter security measures have been introduced and approvals have been granted for future festivals.
Sport
Sport is very popular in Nærbø, and the village has top of the range sports facilities. The village boasts two indoor handball fields, one ice hockey rink, a swimming pool and several outdoor football pitches. In 1993 the sports administration centre in Loen burnt down to the ground, and an effort to rebuild it was immediately undertaken. The rebuilding process was mainly achieved by voluntary work by the local population, commonly known as dugnadDugnad
Dugnad is a Norwegian term for voluntary work done together with other people. In a tradition similar to that of barn raising, community members meet to help an individual, or club members meet to build a clubhouse or get necessary jobs done for a family in need. Participation in a dugnad is often...
. More than 850 locals were involved in the building process and almost 15 000 working hours were invested to achieve this goal. Two years later the new administration centre was finally inaugurated.
Notable people from/living/lived in Nærbø
- Audun Skeidsvoll - Consumer Politics Director of Norwegian Consumer Council
- Georg Fredrik Rieber-MohnGeorg Fredrik Rieber-MohnGeorg Fredrik Rieber-Mohn is a Norwegian judge.He was born in Lillehammer, and graduated as cand.jur. from the University of Oslo in 1969....
- Former National Attorney. - Kjell Arild PollestadKjell Arild PollestadFr. Kjell Arild Pollestad is a Norwegian author, essayist, translator, theologian, philologist, Catholic priest and Dominican....
- Catholic priest, author and travel guide. - Gunnar Torvund - Artist.
- Helge Torvund - Poet, author, translator, critic and psychologist. Teaches creative writing for Dagbladet. Several collections of poetry, children's books, book on therapy, poetry and hypnosis. Has translated Robert Bly and Songs by North American Natives.
- Svein Inge Aarrestad - Entertainer, musician, composer, builder and writer.
- Søren Sviland - Award-winning photographer.
- Øyvind Sviland - Photographer. Did some acting on stage and in a movie as a child and a teenager. Website.
- Norodd Torland - Strong-man that did some guest appearances at the Torkel RavndalTorkel RavndalTorkel Ravndal was a weightlifter and powerlifter from Sandnes, Norway. He also toured with his strong man-show....
shows. TorkelRavndal.com. - Trond Are - Guitarist in Sea of Dreams SeaOfDreams - A melodic metal band.
- Kenneth Eidsaunet - Former trainer for KleppKleppKlepp is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The parish of Klep was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
women's football team. Has done a lot of volunteer work for little league teams and teen football in the region. - Kjetil Vigre - Fitness trainer for the Norwegian National alpine skiing team.
- Egil Bjørløw - MD that worked as regional doctor for FinmarkFinmarkFinmark may refer to:* Finmark, Ontario, a community in the Thunder Bay District of Ontario* the Sápmi * a misspelling of Finnmark, a county in Norway....
. Works now for Stavanger county where he has gotten attention enforcing the smoking ban. - Frank Lervik - Local basketball star. Played for Bryne Basket Klubb for many years, and was famous for his frequent three-pointers. Is still active as a coach for troubled youngsters at Møllerhaugen Center.
- Henriette Henriksen - Handball player that has played for the national handball team.
- Jostein Goa - Local missionary. Lived and preached in Bolivia from 1990 to 1999.
- Egil Ø Nærland - Editor of news and Sportswriter at Stavanger Aftenblad.
- Heidi Netland Berge - Leader for the Gladmat Festival http://gladmatavis.no/nyheter/2008/06/23/heidi-netland-berge-ny-sjef-i-gladmat/
- Tore Nærland - Blind cyclist who works hard for world peace.
- Anders Midttun - Artist (paint and lito). Deceased.
- Ragnvald Skjærpe - Famous entrepreneur and supervisor of the Skjærpe plow: A specialized plow made for breaking new ground into farmland using a bulldozer.
- Gabriel Underhaug - Award-winning designer of potato machinery
- Ådne Underhaug - Inventor of the famous DRYGOLIN house paint at Fleischers
- Bob Mellomstrand(aka Kiwi-Bob) - Has risen to fame through making a living on returning expired groceries for money. He's been featured in several TV shows.
- Kjell Gudmestad - Among Norway's highest regarded guitar technicians. Builds and repairs guitars for a variety of notable artists. Plays several instruments in local bands like Jærrock.
- Tønnes Lode - A famous shopkeeper before and after the second World War. He was the brain behind "Lode Bygget" (Beige building on the right in the first picture on this page) in down town of Nærbø. In 1942 during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyThe occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was arrested by the SchutzstaffelSchutzstaffelThe Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
. He was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp until December 8, 1942 when he was shipped out of Norway to Sachsenhausen concentration campSachsenhausen concentration campSachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
where he was a prisoner for two years and nine months.