1959 in Norway explained

Events in the year 1959 in Norway.

Incumbents

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

Events

• 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

See main article: 1959 in Norwegian music.

Literature

• Harald Sverdrup, poet and children's writer, is awarded the Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment literary prize.^[1]

Notable births

• 19 January
  • Arne Borgstrøm, swimmer.^[2]
  • Sigmund Steinnes, politician (died 2018).^[3]
• 27 January – Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, operatic soprano.^[4]
• 10 February – Steinar Ness, politician.^[5]
• 13 February – Arne Thomassen, politician.^[6]
• 23 February – Sidsel Wold, correspondent and non-fiction writer.^[7]
• 27 February – Tore Sagvolden, orienteering competitor.^[8]
• 9 March – Nils T. Bjørke, farmer, organisational leader and politician.^[9]
• 10 March – Ruth Mari Grung, politician.^[10]
• 16 March – Jens Stoltenberg, prime minister and Secretary-General of NATO^[11]
• 23 March – Unni Larsen, racing cyclist and dogsled racer.^[12]
• 1 April – Pål Farstad, politician.^[13]
• 3 April – Hanne Bramness, poet and translator.^[14]
• 10 April – Mona Juul, diplomat and politician^[15]
• 2 May – Sanna Grønlid, biathlete.^[16]
• 6 May – Morten Staubo, speed skater.^[17]
• 14 May – Bjørn Ousland, comics writer.^[18]
• 22 June – Steffen Tangstad, boxer (died 2024).^[19]
• 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.^[20]
• 7 November – Kristin Glosimot Kjelsberg, handball player.^[21]
• 28 November – Lars Sørgard, economist and civil servant.^[22]
• 2 December – Hans Kristian Amundsen, newspaper editor and politician (d. 2018)
• 28 December – Ragnhild Noer, judge.^[23]

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)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mads Wiel Nygaards Legat . Forfatterportalen.no . Norwegian . 4 April 2009.
2. Encyclopedia: Arne Borgstrøm . Rolf . Bryhn . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 8 December 2022.
3. Web site: Steinnes, Sigmund (1959-2018) . stortinget.no . no . 9 December 2022.
4. Encyclopedia: Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz . Hilde . Holbæk-Hanssen . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 7 January 2023.
5. Web site: Ness, Steinar (1959-) . stortinget.no . no . 9 December 2022.
6. Web site: Thomassen, Arne (1959-) . stortinget.no . no . 9 December 2022.
7. Encyclopedia: Sidsel Wold . Øyvind . Holen . Øyvind Holen . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 11 October 2021.
8. Encyclopedia: Tore Sagvolden . Rolf . Bryhn . Jørn . Sundby . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 9 October 2021.
9. Encyclopedia: Nils T. Bjørke . Olav . Garvik . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . Norwegian . 7 May 2021.
10. Web site: Grung, Ruth (1959-) . stortinget.no . no . 5 November 2021.
11. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jens-Stoltenberg Jens Stoltenbergprime minister of Norway and secretary-general of NATO
12. Web site: Unni Larsen . olympedia.org . 4 November 2021.
13. Web site: Farstad, Pål (1959-) . stortinget.no . no . 9 December 2022.
14. Encyclopedia: Hanne Bramness . Espen . Tørset . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 24 October 2021.
15. Web site: Mona Juul . 9 April 2021 . Ft.dk.
16. Encyclopedia: Sanna Grønlid . Rolf . Bryhn . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 30 November 2022.
17. Web site: Morten Staubo . olympedia.org . 31 October 2021.
18. Encyclopedia: Bjørn Ousland . Jon . Gisle . Jon Gisle . Øyvind . Holen . Øyvind Holen . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no. 11 March 2024.
19. Encyclopedia: Steffen Tangstad . Anders Werner . Øfsti . Rolf . Bryhn . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 28 June 2024.
20. Encyclopedia: Pål Gerhard Olsen . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 10 October 2021.
21. Encyclopedia: Kristin Glosimot Kjelsberg . Rolf . Bryhn . Thomas . Aune . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 25 October 2021.
22. Encyclopedia: Lars Sørgard . Sten . Lundbo . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 7 January 2023.
23. Encyclopedia: Ragnhild Noer . Jon . Gisle . Jon Gisle . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . no . 12 October 2021.