Drøbak Christmas Shop – all year round!!

If you come to Norway in November and December, you will find Norwegian julenisser (Christmas elves and Father Christmas) everywhere – and lots and lots of seasonal decorations on sale in the shops. But these might be more difficult to find at other times of the year. So a visit to the Christmas Shop and Father Christmas post office in Drøbak town is the answer. See opening times on the website. Drøbak is a very pleasant small town on the east side of the Oslo fjord. If driving there, be aware that there is a genuine (and Norway’s only) traffic sign telling motorists to take care as Santa may be crossing the road!!

You might like to visit the Akvarium beside the harbour while you are there: open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year round with extended opening till 6:30 from 1st April – 31st August.

The Christmas Shop, Havnebakken 6, 1440 Drøbak

GPS Coordinates:
59° 39′ 46.746” N
10° 37′ 42.7476” E

From Vollen it is easiest to get to the town of Drøbak by driving south to Sætre and taking the Oslo fjord tunnel. There is no longer any toll levied on this tunnel but take care not to exceed the speed limit. An alternative even more scenic route to the tunnel is to turn left at Slemmestad and drive through the small villages of Nærsnes, Båtstø and Sætre, to where you join route 23 for Drøbak.

In late June and July there is a weekend ferry service between Vollen and Drøbak.

Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park

Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park is well worth the 70 minute drive from Vollen. In the autumn of 2019, the utterly amazing TWIST bridge gallery was opened. This has since been acclaimed as one of the two must-see buildings in Norway and one of the most fascinating constructions in the world. But apart from the Twist, there is the Industrial museum, and a wonderful park to wander through. You will find exciting installations and sculptures by Norwegian and international artists for the whole family to enjoy. Several are interactive and enchant adults and children alike. The park is open from the third week of May to the end of the first week of October. There is a café, picnic area, children’s adventure park and gift shop. On warm days children will want to have their swim suits to be able to play in the amazing water and mirror fountain! On the day you drive to Kistefos, you might want to visit Hadeland Glass Works which is nearby.

Petroc Sesti’s

“Energy-Matter-Space-Time”

Olafur-Eliasson

“Vewing Machine”

Jeppe Hein’s

“Path of Silence” – bring swimsuits and towels!

Oldenburg-&-van-Bruggen

“Tumbling Tacks”

Ilya Kabakov’s

“The Ball”

Ilya Kabakov’s

“The Ball”

Bjarne-Melgaard’s

“Octopus”

Tony-Cragg’s

“I’m alive”

Kistefos-Museet,
Samsmoveien 41, 3520 Jevnaker

GPS Coordinates:
60° 13′ 27.0192” N
10° 22′ 17.5296” E

We suggest that you take the direct route (in blue) driving the E16 to Norderhov and then turning right into road 241 to the Kistefos Museum. When returning you might like to take the grey route which takes you through Hønefoss (direct translation Hen in the Waterfall) admiring the famous waterfall in the town centre.

The lakes, Steinfjorden and Tyrifjorden are very beautiful – named fjords because of the steep hills rising on all sides.

Hadeland Glassworks Village

Hadeland Glassworks enjoys an idyllic setting on the southern shore of the lake Randsfjorden, just 80 minutes’ drive from Vollen. The Glassworks was founded in 1762 and is Norway’s oldest handicraft manufacturer in continuous operation. In summer and at weekends throughout the year, it is possible to blow your own glass. You must wait for about 90 minutes after blowing until the glass is sufficiently hardened to be taken home, but meanwhile there are lots of cafés, boutiques and gift shops to visit. And you might want to try colouring a candle or two while waiting – a great gift for grandparents?

Hadeland Glassverk,
Glassverksveien 9,
3520 Jevnaker

GPS Coordinates
60° 14′ 15.8604” N
10° 23′ 49.0164” E

We suggest that you take the direct route (in blue) to Hadeland Glass Works. When returning you might like to pause at Hønefoss (direct translation Hen in the Waterfall) admiring the famous waterfall in the town centre.

The lakes, Steinfjorden and Tyrifjorden are very beautiful – named fjords because of the steep hills rising on all sides.

Vollen Ferry

On the upper deck, returning from a day in Oslo

The upper deck is the place for sightseeing and sea breezes. Indoors there is a warm beverages machine, comfortable seats and salt-sprayed windows.

Vollen Ferry Boat runs Monday to Friday
(depending on fjord ice conditions, the boat runs all year except from 8th July to 4th August, Christmas & Easter.
In the summer weeks,between 8th July – 4th August, the boat does not sail on weekdays but there are Saturday and Sunday sailings from Vollen which stop both at Drøbak town, on the west side of the fjord, and Oslo. Please see the timetables on the display in the apartment.

From Vollen        arrives Oslo
06:12                     06:40
07:17                     07:45
08:22                     08:50

15:35 16:15
16:45 17:25

From Oslo            arrives Vollen
06:40                     07:17
07:45                     08:22
15:10                     15:35
16:20                     16:45
17:30                     17:55

From June 1st, there are Saturday and Sunday sailings from Vollen which stop at Fornebu and dock at Aker brygge in Oslo harbour below the City Hall. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes.
Saturdays and Sundays: leaving Vollen at 1207; 1507 and 1837
Saturdays and Sundays: leaving Oslo at 1005; 1305 and 1635

Boat

From Sheeps Inn walk down and cross Slemmestadveien

Continue 2 minutes walk past the Sushi takeaway

The ferry arrives at the landing stage

And leaves again for Slemmestad and Oslo

Right to Roam

In Norway there is a huge possibility to walk, cycle, ski or sail over the whole country. These rights are set out in detail in the Norwegian Environment Agency’s brochure, Right to Roam. There are also extensive coastal paths and tracks along the sea and fjords. In Vollen we are lucky enough to have a wonderful coastal path. Vollen is a very peaceful and safe village but some roads suitable for jogging or walking are used both by motorists and pedestrians. In summer we have many hours of daylight, but by Mid-September the days are much shorter and in the winter months, especially before the arrival of the snow, motorists find it difficult to spot pedestrians crossing roads or walking where there is no footpath. Children, dogs & horses are equipped with reflector vests. At the very least, people should wear reflectors when training. If you don’t wear a reflector vest, the best place to put bands on is at ankle level.
You will find six reflector bands on the window sill in the kitchen. Please borrow a couple of bands and enjoy getting around Vollen by night – safely.