1959 in Norway

Events in the year 1959 in Norway.

← 1958 1957 1956 1959 in Norway → 1960 1961 1962
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Incumbents

• Monarch – Olav V
• Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen (Labour Party)

Events

• The Groningen gas field discovery in the Netherlands sparks interest in exploring hydrocarbons under the North Sea.^[1]

• 16 February – The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet holds its first performance in Folketeatret in Oslo.
• 26 June – The "Farmers' Party" (Bondepartiet) changes its name to the "Centre Party" (Senterpartiet).
• 19 July – Nikita Khrushchev cancels a planned visit to Norway, among others due to an alleged anti-Soviet press coverage.
• 29 December – The Norwegian government signs the EFTA free trade treaty. Norway becomes an EFTA member.
• Municipal and county elections are held throughout the country.

Popular culture

Sports

Music

Main article: 1959 in Norwegian music

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1950s § 1959

Literature

• Harald Sverdrup, poet and children's writer, is awarded the Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment literary prize.^[2]

Notable births

Jon Fosse

Jens Stoltenberg

• 19 January
  • Arne Borgstrøm, swimmer.^[3]
  • Sigmund Steinnes, politician (died 2018).^[4]
• 27 January – Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, operatic soprano.^[5]
• 10 February – Steinar Ness, politician.^[6]
• 13 February – Arne Thomassen, politician.^[7]
• 23 February – Sidsel Wold, correspondent and non-fiction writer.^[8]
• 27 February – Tore Sagvolden, orienteering competitor.^[9]
• 9 March – Nils T. Bjørke, farmer, organisational leader and politician.^[10]
• 10 March – Ruth Mari Grung, politician.^[11]
• 16 March – Jens Stoltenberg, prime minister and Secretary-General of NATO^[12]
• 23 March – Unni Larsen, racing cyclist and dogsled racer.^[13]
• 1 April – Pål Farstad, politician.^[14]
• 3 April – Hanne Bramness, poet and translator.^[15]
• 10 April – Mona Juul, diplomat and politician^[16]
• 2 May – Sanna Grønlid, biathlete.^[17]
• 6 May – Morten Staubo, speed skater.^[18]
• 14 May – Bjørn Ousland, comics writer.^[19]
• 10 June – Bent Hegna, politician
• 22 June – Steffen Tangstad, boxer (died 2024).^[20]
• 27 June – Thure Erik Lund, author
• 29 June – Harald Tveit Alvestrand, computer scientist
• 5 July – Synnøve Brenden Klemetrud, politician
• 8 July – Tom Egeland, author
• 27 August – Frode Fjellheim, Sami musician
• 14 September – Morten Harket, A-ha lead singer
• 29 September – Jon Fosse, author and dramatist
• 21 October – Åslaug Haga, politician and Minister
• 1 November – Pål Gerhard Olsen, author.^[21]
• 7 November – Kristin Glosimot Kjelsberg, handball player.^[22]
• 28 November – Lars Sørgard, economist and civil servant.^[23]
• 2 December – Hans Kristian Amundsen, newspaper editor and politician (d. 2018)
• 28 December – Ragnhild Noer, judge.^[24]

Notable deaths

• 21 March – Hartvig Caspar Christie, politician (born 1893)
• 17 May – Alf Grindrud, politician (born 1904)
• 16 June – Konrad Knudsen, painter, journalist and politician (born 1890)
• 3 July – Johan Bojer, novelist and dramatist (born 1872)
• 15 July – Peter Egge, writer (born 1869)
• 28 July – Roald Larsen, speed skater and Olympic silver medallist (born 1898)
• 5 September – Sigvald Hasund, researcher of agriculture, politician and Minister (born 1868)
• 21 November – Olav Meisdalshagen, politician and Minister (born 1903)

Full date unknown

• Eivind Berggrav, Lutheran bishop (born 1884)
• Sverre Grette, judge (born 1888)
• Kristian Hansson, jurist and civil servant (born 1895)
• Olaf Norli, bookseller and publisher (born 1861)
• Lars Slagsvold, veterinarian (born 1887)
• Sverre Kornelius Eilertsen Støstad, politician and Minister (born 1887)
• G. Unger Vetlesen, shipbuilder and philanthropist (born 1889)

See also