1959 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.

• 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

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.

Notable births

• 19 January
  • Arne Borgstrøm, swimmer.
  • Sigmund Steinnes, politician (died 2018).
• 27 January – Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, operatic soprano.
• 10 February – Steinar Ness, politician.
• 13 February – Arne Thomassen, politician.
• 23 February – Sidsel Wold, correspondent and non-fiction writer.
• 27 February – Tore Sagvolden, orienteering competitor.
• 9 March – Nils T. Bjørke, farmer, organisational leader and politician.
• 10 March – Ruth Mari Grung, politician.
• 16 March – Jens Stoltenberg, prime minister and Secretary-General of NATO[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jens-Stoltenberg Jens Stoltenberg prime minister of Norway and secretary-general of NATO]
• 23 March – Unni Larsen, racing cyclist and dogsled racer.
• 1 April – Pål Farstad, politician.
• 3 April – Hanne Bramness, poet and translator.
• 10 April – Mona Juul, diplomat and politician
• 2 May – Sanna Grønlid, biathlete.
• 6 May – Morten Staubo, speed skater.
• 14 May – Bjørn Ousland, comics writer.
• 10 June – Bent Hegna, politician
• 22 June – Steffen Tangstad, boxer (died 2024).
• 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.
• 7 November – Kristin Glosimot Kjelsberg, handball player.
• 28 November – Lars Sørgard, economist and civil servant.
• 2 December – Hans Kristian Amundsen, newspaper editor and politician (d. 2018)
• 28 December – Ragnhild Noer, judge.

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)

References

References

1. "Norway’s petroleum history".
2. "Mads Wiel Nygaards Legat". Forfatterportalen.no.
3. "Arne Borgstrøm". Norsk nettleksikon.
4. "Steinnes, Sigmund (1959-2018)".
5. "Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz". Norsk nettleksikon.
6. "Ness, Steinar (1959-)".
7. "Thomassen, Arne (1959-)".
8. Holen, Øyvind. "Sidsel Wold". Norsk nettleksikon.
9. "Tore Sagvolden". Norsk nettleksikon.
10. Garvik, Olav. "Nils T. Bjørke". Norsk nettleksikon.
11. "Grung, Ruth (1959-)".
12. "Unni Larsen".
13. "Farstad, Pål (1959-)".
14. Tørset, Espen. "Hanne Bramness". Norsk nettleksikon.
15. "Mona Juul".
16. "Sanna Grønlid". Norsk nettleksikon.
17. "Morten Staubo".
18. Gisle, Jon. "Bjørn Ousland". Norsk nettleksikon.
19. Øfsti, Anders Werner. "Steffen Tangstad". Norsk nettleksikon.
20. "Pål Gerhard Olsen". Norsk nettleksikon.
21. "Kristin Glosimot Kjelsberg". Norsk nettleksikon.
22. "Lars Sørgard". Norsk nettleksikon.
23. Gisle, Jon. "Ragnhild Noer". Norsk nettleksikon.