KRISTIANSAND
The Heart of the Norwegian Southland.
Deep in the southlands of Norway, the long summer days and relatively mild winters provide the perfect backdrop to the industrious, creative and innovative city of Kristiansand. This is home to a thriving business sector that includes a shipping industry rooted in colorful tradition, a world leading industry cluster in offshore and drilling engineering. Festivals, cultural activities, educational opportunities and boundless nature complete the story of the city in the heart of “Sørlandet” (the Southland).
Looking out over the harbor towards the mainland of Europe, one can imagine the tall sailing ships that typified the past centuries. A city that has long been admired for its craftsmanship, high quality of living, and successful industries, Kristiansand is the main city of the “Adger Counties” (East Adger and West Adger). Here, one normally enjoys even more summer sunshine compared to the rest of Norway – making it the ideal home to festivals and outdoor recreational activities – a popular destination for visitors from Norway, Europe and beyond.
Thriving Business Sector
The region´s long and colorful history with the sea continues today with active shipping and maritime sectors. This history has also been at the root of the development of an impressive and international success story with products and services that range from complete oil and gas platforms to high-end technology equipment for drilling and production of oil and gas in all climate conditions. The Norwegian Centre of Expertise NODE (Norwegian Offshore and Drilling Engineering) is a business cluster of over 50 companies within the areas of offshore drilling, offshore loading/unloading, mooring/anchoring and cranes with unequal strength and capacity. See the NCE NODE website.
Quality of Life
The link between industry and the local quality of life is a solid one due to organizations such as Cultiva, a Krisitansand organization that has gained national attention in its quest to secure jobs and good living conditions in the city by providing grants to projects which set up art, cultural, and educational institutions or organisations that contribute to innovation, development and competence-building within the creative environment of Kristiansand. Visit Cultiva for more information.
Students & Our Future
Krisitiansand features a population with one of the highest levels of education in a country that has one of the highest levels of education in the world, and is home to a number of excellent schools such as the University of Adger and a campus of the Norwegian School of Management (BI), where Norwegian students and their international counterparts enjoy top level education that prepares them for a changing world. The Gimle School of Journalism and Communication is also known for its quality and creativity in helping students in their goals of achieving the best education in preparation for the future.
A Natural & Cultural Wonderland
What gives the city of Kristiansand and the surrounding region much of their unique personality are the cultural and recreational activities that are available to all. Music festivals are staged all year round that range from jazz to classical to rock; exhibitions show the best of cultural creativity; and the Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is visited by tens of thousands from all over Norway and beyond.
These are just a few things that make Kristiansand the place for you to be. Come for a visit!
