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Molde

Coordinates: 62°45′23″N 07°14′19″E / 62.75639°N 7.23861°E / 62.75639; 7.23861
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This article is about the Norwegian municipality. For the town in this municipality, see Molde (town). For other uses, see Molde (disambiguation).
Molde Municipality
Molde kommune
Municipality
Eastward view of Molde. Molde Cathedral (left).
Eastward view of Molde. Molde Cathedral (left).
Flag of Molde Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Molde Municipality
Coat of arms
Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Molde within Møre og Romsdal
Molde within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°45′23″N 07°14′19″E / 62.75639°N 7.23861°E / 62.75639; 7.23861
CountryNorway
CountyMøre og Romsdal
DistrictRomsdal
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreMolde
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Trygve Grydeland (H)
Area
 • Total
1,503.37 km2 (580.45 sq mi)
 • Land1,434.94 km2 (554.03 sq mi)
 • Water68.42 km2 (26.42 sq mi)  4.6%
 • Rank#56 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
32,446
 • Rank#31 in Norway
 • Density22.6/km2 (59/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +4.9%
DemonymsMoldenser
Moldensar[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1506[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Molde (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈmɔ̂ɫdə] ⓘ) is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord.

The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Molde which is also the administrative centre of Møre og Romsdal county, the commercial hub of the Romsdal region, and the seat of the Diocese of Møre. Other main population centres in the municipality include the villages of Hjelset, Kleive, Nesjestranda, Midsund, Nord-Heggdal, Eidsvåg, Rausand, Boggestranda, Myklebostad, Eresfjord, and Eikesdalen.

Molde has a maritime, temperate climate, with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters. The city is nicknamed The City of Roses.[4]

Molde was originally the name of a farm by a natural harbour, which grew into a timber trading port in the late 16th century.[5] Formal trading rights were introduced before 1604,[6] and the town was incorporated through a royal charter in 1742. Molde was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

The town continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming a centre for Norwegian textile and garment industry, as well as the administrative centre for the region, and a major tourist destination. After World War II, Molde experienced accelerated growth, merging with Bolsøy Municipality and parts of Veøy Municipality on 1 January 1964, and has become a centre for not only administrative and public services, but also academic resources and industrial output.

The 1,503-square-kilometre (580 sq mi) municipality is the 56th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Molde is the 31st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 32,446. The municipality's population density is 22.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (59/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.9% over the previous 10-year period.[7][8]

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Molde
Illustration of Molde, painting by Nico Wilhelm Jungmann, 1904

The city's current location dates from the late Medieval times but is preceded by an earlier Medieval township on Veøya, an island to the south of present-day Molde. The settlement at Veøya probably dates from the Migration Period, but is first mentioned in the sagas by Snorri Sturluson as the location of the Battle of Sekken in 1162, where king Håkon the Broad-shouldered was killed fighting the aristocrat Erling Skakke, during the Norwegian civil wars. However, settlement in the area can be traced much further back in time—evidence given by two rock slabs carved with petroglyphs found at Bjørset, west of the city center.

At the eve of the 15th century, the influence of Veøya waned, and the island was eventually deserted.

Originating from the two farms Reknes and Molde (later Moldegård), a minor port called Moldefjæra (Molde Landing) emerged around 1600, based on trade with timber and herring.

Molde's main street and commercial center. Molde Cathedral (orange roof on the far right) with its freestanding bell tower replaced the church that was destroyed during World War II

The town gained formal trading rights before 1604 under the supervision of Trondheim.[6] After the Treaty of Copenhagen in 1660, Molde became the administrative center of Romsdal amt, and was incorporated as a city through a royal charter in 1742. Molde continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming a center for the Norwegian textile and garment industry. Tourism later became a major industry, and Molde saw notabilities such as the German emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and the Prince of Wales as regular summer visitors. Molde consisted of luxurious hotels surrounding an idyllic township with quaint, wooden houses, lush gardens, and parks, esplanades, and pavilions, earning it the nickname the Town of Roses. This was interrupted when one-third of the city was destroyed in a fire on 21 January 1916. However, Molde recovered and continued to grow in the economically difficult interbellum period.

A second fire, or series of fires, struck from the German air-raids in April and May 1940, which destroyed about two-thirds of the town. Molde was in effect the capital of Norway for a week after King Haakon, Crown Prince Olav, and members of the government and parliament arrived at Molde on April 23, after a dramatic flight from Oslo. They were put up at Glomstua, then at the western outskirts of the town, and experienced the bombing raids personally. The Norwegian gold reserve was also conveyed to Molde, and was hidden in a clothing factory.

However, German intelligence was well aware of this, and on April 25 the Luftwaffe initiated a series of air-raids. For a week the air-raid siren on the chimney of the dairy building announced the repeated attacks. April 29 turned out to be the worst day in the history of Molde, as the city was transformed into a sea of flames by incendiary bombs. Until then the church had escaped undamaged, but in the final sortie a firebomb became stuck high up in the tower, and the wooden church was obliterated by fire.

After World War II, Molde experienced tremendous growth. As the modernization of the Norwegian society accelerated in the post-reconstruction years, Molde became a center for not only administrative and public services, but also academic resources and industrial output. After the consolidation of the town itself and its adjacent communities in 1964, Molde became a modern city, encompassing most branches of employment, from farming and fisheries to industrial production, banking, higher education, tourism, commerce, health care, and civil administration.

Municipality

[edit]

The town of Molde was established as an urban municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). It was surrounded by the rural municipality of Bolsøy. On 1 July 1915, a part of Bolsøy (population: 183) was transferred to the city of Molde. On 1 January 1952, another part of Bolsøy (population: 1,913) was transferred to Molde.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Molde (town) (population: 8,289) merged with the Sekken, Veøya, and Nesjestranda parts of municipality of Veøy (population: 756), all of the municipality of Bolsøy (population: 7,996), and the Mordal area of Nord-Aukra municipality (population: 77) to form the present day municipality of Molde.[9]

On 1 January 2020, the neighbouring municipalities of Midsund and Nesset merged with Molde to form a much larger municipality called Molde.[10]

Name

[edit]

The municipality (originally the town and parish) is named after the old Molde farmstead (Old Norse: Moldar) since this was where the town was built. The name's origin is somewhat uncertain. It could be the plural form is mold which means "fertile soil" or "earth". The other possibility is that it comes from the word moldr which means "skull" or "mold" (referring to the rounded peaks in Moldemarka).[11] Pronunciation varies between the standard Molde and the rural Molle (pronounced with thick "l"). A person from Molde will refer to themself as a Moldenser.

Coat of arms

[edit]

The coat of arms was granted on 29 June 1742. The informal blazon is "a water spouting whale, which drives a barrel in front of itself" (Norwegian: en vannsprutende hvalfisk, som driver en tønne for seg). The arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a whale and barrel floating on the ocean waves. It also has a mural crown above the escutcheon since the municipality includes a town. The exact design of the coat of arms is not formally depicted in law, so it has varied some over the centuries. The arms symbolize a whale chasing herring into a barrel, based on an old myth that the whales (guided by God) chased the schools of herring into the fjords at certain times. It also portrays the city's founding industries of herring fisheries and timber exports. Molde was never a whaling port, but the unusually bountiful fisheries in the early 1740s alleviated the city's suffering during a major famine. The sighting of whales, usually pods of orca, was commonly held to be the start of the spring herring fisheries. The municipal flag is a white flag with the coat of arms in the centre.[12][13][14]

Moldesangen (The Song of Molde) is the semi-official anthem. It was written by Palle Godtfred Olaus Dørum (1818–1886) and composed by Karl Groos (1789–1861), supposedly in 1818, and is the same tune used the anthem of the German federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Moldesangen)

Geography

[edit]
View of Molde from the Molde archipelago.

Molde municipality includes part of the Romsdal peninsula as well as many islands including the islands of Otrøya and Midøya. To the southeast, Molde municipality stretches about 75 kilometres (47 mi) inland. The town of Molde consists of a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long and 1 to 2 kilometres (0.62 to 1.24 mi) wide strip of urban land running east–west along the north shore of the Moldefjord, an arm of the Romsdalsfjord, on the Romsdal peninsula. The city is sheltered by Bolsøya and the Molde archipelago, a chain of low-lying islands and islets, to the south, and the wood-clad hills of Moldemarka to the north. The city centre is located just west of the river Moldeelva, which runs into the city from the north, originating in the Moldevatnet lake, through the valley Moldedalen. Despite the river being minor and seasonal, it supported several sawmills in the 16th and 17th centuries. This gave rise to the original town itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber resources, and a river capable of supporting mills. In 1909, the river housed the first hydro electric power plant capable of providing sufficient electricity for the city, and the upper reaches of the river still provide drinking water for most of the city.

Its panoramic view of some 222 partly snow-clad peaks, usually referred to as the Molde panorama, is one of Molde's main attractions, and has drawn tourists to the city since the 19th century. Molde is nicknamed the Town of Roses, a name which originated during Molde's era as a tourist destination of international fame in the late 19th century.

Neighbouring municipalities are Aukra, Gjemnes, and Hustadvika (to the north); Ålesund (to the southwest); Vestnes and Rauma (to the south); and Tingvoll and Sunndal (to the east).

Points of interest

[edit]

Salmon, sea trout and sea char are found in the rivers throughout the area, especially the Rauma, Driva, and Eira, already legendary among the British gentry in the mid-19th century.[citation needed] Trout is abundant in most lakes. Cod, pollock, saithe, mackerel and other species of saltwater fish are commonly caught in the Romsdalsfjord, both from land and from boat. Skiing is a common activity among the inhabitants of Molde in the winter, on groomed tracks, in resorts or by own trail. There are several rock climbing, ice climbing, bouldering, glacier and basejumping areas in the immediate vicinity of Molde.

The Atlantic road was voted the Norwegian Construction of the Century in 2005. It is built on bridges and landfills across small islands and skerries, and spans from the small communities of Vikan and Vevang to Averøy, an island with several historic landmarks, such as the Bremsnes cave with Mesolithic findings from the Fosna culture, the mediaeval Kvernes stave church, and Langøysund, now a remote fishing community, but once a bustling port along the main coastal route. Langøysund was the site of the compromise between King Magnus I and the farmers along the coast in 1040. The compromise is regarded as Norway's Magna Carta, and is commemorated though the Pilespisser (English: Arrowheads) monument.

Trollkirka (English: lit. Troll Church) is a marble grotto leading up to an underground waterfall. The grotto is situated 30 minutes outside Molde, followed by a 1-hour hike up a steep trail. Trollveggen is Europe's tallest vertical, overhanging mountain face,[15] with several very difficult climbing routes. Trollstigen is the most visited tourist road in Norway. The road twists and turns its way up an almost vertical mountainside through 11 hairpin bends to an altitude of 858 m (2,814.96 ft). Mardalsfossen is the highest waterfall in Northern Europe and the fourth highest waterfall in the world, cascading 297 metres down into the valley. The total height of the waterfall is 655 m (2,148.95 ft).

Bud is a fishing village on the very tip of the Romsdal peninsula. It gained importance during the Middle Ages as a trading post, and hosted the last free Privy Council of Norway in 1533, a desperate attempt to save the country's independence and stave off the Protestant Reformation, led by Olav Engelbrektsson, archbishop of Nidaros (today Trondheim). The massive Ergan coastal defences, a restored German coastal fort from World War II, and a part of the Atlantic Wall, is situated in Bud. The fishing communities of Ona, Bjørnsund and Håholmen are located on remote islands off the coast, only accessible by boat or ferry.

View from the top of Varden

Moldemarka

[edit]
Main article: Moldemarka

Moldemarka, the hilly woodland area north of the city, is public land. The area has an extensive network of paths, walking trails and skiing tracks. Forest roads enter the area from several directions. Bulletin boards and maps provide information regarding local plants and wildlife, as well as signposts along the trails. Marked trails lead to a number of peaks, sites and fishing lakes and rivers. A national fishing licence is required to fish in the lakes and streams.

Varden, 407 metres (1,335 ft) above sea level is a viewpoint directly above Molde, with a good view of the city, the fjord with the Molde archipelago and the Molde panorama.

The panoramic view surrounding Molde.

Climate

[edit]

Molde has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) also known as marine west coast climate. Molde holds the national high for the month of October, with 25.6 °C or 78.1 °F recorded on 11 October 2005. Due to its geographic location, Molde experiences frequent snowfalls in winter, but this snow is usually wet as the winters tend to be mild. The record high 31 °C or 88 °F was recorded in July 2018. The record low −17 °C or 1 °F was recorded in both January and February 2010.

A natural phenomenon occurring in Molde and the adjacent district, are frequent winter days with temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F), sometimes even above 14 °C (57 °F). This is due to the foehn wind from south and south-east. The sheltered location of the city, facing south with hills to the north, mountains to the east and mountainous islands to the west, contributes to Molde's climate and rich plant life, especially among species naturally growing on far lower latitudes, like chestnut, oak, tilia (lime or linden), beech, yew, and others.

Climate data for Molde Airport 1991-2020 (3 m, precipitation from Nøisomhed, extremes 2003-2024)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1) 		14.8
(58.6) 		15.9
(60.6) 		22.8
(73.0) 		29.7
(85.5) 		30.4
(86.7) 		31.0
(87.8) 		28.8
(83.8) 		24.3
(75.7) 		25.6
(78.1) 		18.7
(65.7) 		14.4
(57.9) 		31.0
(87.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3
(37) 		4
(39) 		6
(43) 		10
(50) 		14
(57) 		17
(63) 		19
(66) 		19
(66) 		15
(59) 		11
(52) 		6
(43) 		4
(39) 		11
(51)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0) 		0.9
(33.6) 		2.4
(36.3) 		5.7
(42.3) 		9.2
(48.6) 		12.5
(54.5) 		15.4
(59.7) 		14.7
(58.5) 		11.4
(52.5) 		6.7
(44.1) 		3.9
(39.0) 		1.3
(34.3) 		7.1
(44.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1
(30) 		0
(32) 		0
(32) 		2
(36) 		6
(43) 		10
(50) 		12
(54) 		12
(54) 		9
(48) 		5
(41) 		2
(36) 		1
(34) 		5
(41)
Record low °C (°F) −17
(1) 		−17
(1) 		−12.8
(9.0) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−3
(27) 		0.9
(33.6) 		4.4
(39.9) 		2.7
(36.9) 		0.5
(32.9) 		−6.4
(20.5) 		−11.6
(11.1) 		−14.2
(6.4) 		−17
(1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 181
(7.1) 		164
(6.5) 		118
(4.6) 		98
(3.9) 		95
(3.7) 		89
(3.5) 		99
(3.9) 		132
(5.2) 		185
(7.3) 		189
(7.4) 		144
(5.7) 		173
(6.8) 		1,667
(65.6)
Source 1: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[16]
Source 2: Weatheronline Molde climate robot[17]

Government

[edit]

Molde Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[18] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Møre og Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

[edit]

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Molde is made up of 49 representatives who are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Molde kommunestyre 2023–2027 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 7
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 15
  Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:49
Molde kommunestyre 2019–2023 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 7
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 15
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:59
Molde kommunestyre 2015–2019 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 17
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 2011–2015 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 17
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 2007–2011 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 13
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 2003–2007 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 15
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 1999–2003 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 11
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 1995–1999 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 1991–1995 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 8
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:47
Molde kommunestyre 1987–1991 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 19
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 13
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 9
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1983–1987 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 20
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 14
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 10
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1979–1983 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 17
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 11
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1975–1979 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 19
  Anders Lange's Party (Anders Langes parti) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 14
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1971–1975 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 23
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 11
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1967–1971 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 24
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 9
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 9
Total number of members:61
Molde kommunestyre 1963–1967 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 25
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 11
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:61
Molde bystyre 1959–1963 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:37
Molde bystyre 1955–1959 [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:37
Molde bystyre 1951–1955 [34]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
Total number of members:36
Molde bystyre 1947–1951 [35]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:28
Molde bystyre 1945–1947 [36]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:28
Molde bystyre 1937–1941* [37]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
Total number of members:28
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.
Molde bystyre 1934–1937 [38]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 9
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 10
Total number of members:28
Molde bystyre 1931–1934 [39]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 10
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:28

Mayors

[edit]

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Molde:[40]

  • 1837–1838: C.B. Brinchmann
  • 1839–1839: J.S. Sommerschield
  • 1840–1840: C.B. Brinchmann
  • 1841–1841: Bastian Width
  • 1842–1842: Edvard Kraft
  • 1843–1844: K.A. Bjørseth
  • 1845–1845: Claus S. Jervell
  • 1846–1846: K.A. Bjørseth
  • 1847–1847: Johan Olivarius Horn
  • 1848–1848: Claus S. Jervell
  • 1849–1850: Johan Olivarius Horn
  • 1851–1853: Isach Georg Dass
  • 1854–1854: Christen Smith
  • 1855–1855: Johan Olivarius Horn
  • 1856–1856: Claus S. Jervell
  • 1857–1857: Johan Olivarius Horn
  • 1858–1858: Gunder Paulsen
  • 1859–1859: Andreas Lind
  • 1860–1860: Gunder Paulsen
  • 1861–1861: Andreas Lind
  • 1862–1862: Henrik L. Sommerschield
  • 1863–1864: Thorvald Johannes Owren
  • 1865–1865: Isach Georg Dass
  • 1866–1866: Ludvig Arnoldus Leth
  • 1867–1867: Gunder Paulsen
  • 1868–1869: Ludvig Arnoldus Leth
  • 1870–1870: Fredrik Christian Sand
  • 1871–1874: K.F. Feilberg
  • 1875–1876: Ferdinand Nicolai Roll
  • 1877–1877: Henrik L. Sommerschield
  • 1878–1878: Johan B. Ræstad
  • 1879–1883: Tobias Annæus Owren
  • 1884–1886: Ludvig Arnoldus Leth
  • 1887–1888: Ferdinand Nicolai Roll
  • 1888–1890: J.L.W. Dietrichson
  • 1891–1891: Ludvig Arnoldus Leth
  • 1892–1892: J.L.W. Dietrichson
  • 1893–1893: O. Berg
  • 1894–1895: J.L.W. Dietrichson
  • 1896–1899: Albert Dessen
  • 1900–1902: Lars Nøsen
  • 1903–1904: Birger Stuevold-Hansen
  • 1905–1907: Ulrich Møller
  • 1908–1910: Nils Christian Egede Hertzberg
  • 1911–1913: Lars Jacobsen
  • 1914–1916: Nils Christian Egede Hertzberg
  • 1917–1922: Anton Holm
  • 1923–1925: Kristian Nøsen
  • 1926–1927: Nils B. Elvsaas (V)
  • 1928–1930: Hans Jakob Sparre Schneider
  • 1931–1934: Ole Sivertsen Nås (V)
  • 1935–1937: Oscar Hanssen (H)
  • 1938–1940: Ole Sivertsen Nås (V)
  • 1941–1945: Hans Jakob Sparre Schneider (NS)
  • 1945–1945: Ole Sivertsen Nås (V)
  • 1946–1946: Nils B. Elvsaas (V)
  • 1947–1947: O. Aasgård (Ap)
  • 1948–1950: Nils B. Elvsaas (V)
  • 1951–1955: Asgaut Bore (V)
  • 1956–1959: Kåre Stokkeland (Ap)
  • 1960–1961: Petter Pettersson (H)
  • 1962–1965: Johan Skipnes (KrF)
  • 1966–1969: Petter Pettersson (H)
  • 1970–1971: Olav Askvik (V)
  • 1972–1973: Johan Skipnes (KrF)
  • 1972–1973: Petter Pettersson (H)
  • 1974–1977: Wilhelm Wilkens (Sp)
  • 1978–1979: Asmund Fredly (KrF)
  • 1980–1981: Bernt Vilnes (H)
  • 1982–1983: Asmund Fredly (KrF)
  • 1984–1985: Rolf Myhre (KrF)
  • 1986–1989: Ragnar Heggdal (H)
  • 1990–1993: Rolf Myhre (KrF)
  • 1994–1998: Einar Øveraas (H)
  • 1998–2003: Rolf Myhre (KrF)
  • 2003–2011: Jan Petter Hammerø (H)
  • 2011–2023: Torgeir Dahl (H)
  • 2023-present: Trygve Grydeland (H)[41]

Culture

[edit]
The seaward approach to Molde is dominated by the sixteen-storey Scandic Seilet Hotel.

Three of the four great Norwegian authors are connected to Molde. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson spent his childhood years at Nesset outside Molde, and attended school in the city. Henrik Ibsen frequently spent his vacations at the mansion Moldegård visiting the family Møller; and Alexander Kielland resided in the city as the governor of Romsdals amt. Ibsen's play Rosmersholm is generally thought to be inspired by life at the mansion Moldegård, and The Lady from the Sea is also believed to be set in the city of Molde, although never actually mentioned. Other authors from or with ties to Molde include Edvard Hoem, Jo Nesbø, Knut Ødegård, and Nini Roll Anker, a friend of Sigrid Undset.

The Romsdal Museum, one of Norway's largest folk museums, was established in 1912. Buildings originating from all over the region have been moved here to form a typical cluster of farm buildings including "open hearth" houses, sheds, outhouses, smokehouses and a small chapel. The "town street" with Mali's Café shows typical Molde town houses from the pre-World War I period. The Museum of the Fisheries is an open-air museum located on the island of Hjertøya, 10 minutes from the centre of Molde. A small fishing village with authentic buildings, boats and fishing equipment, the museum shows local coastal culture from 1850 onwards.

The local newspaper is Romsdals Budstikke.[42]

Churches

[edit]

The Church of Norway has ten parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Molde. It is part of the Molde domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Molde
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Molde Molde Cathedral Molde 1957
Bolsøy Røbekk Church Røbekk 1898
Nordbyen Church Molde 2006
Bergmo Church Molde 1982
Eikesdal Eikesdal Church Eikesdalen 1866
Eresfjord Sira Church Eresfjord 1869
Kleive Kleive Church Kleive 1858
Midsund Otrøy Church Uglvik, Otrøya 1878
Nord-Heggdal Chapel Nord-Heggdal 1974
Nesset Nesset Church Eidsvåg 1878
Røvik og Veøy Røvik Church Røvika 1905
Veøy Church Sølsnes 1907
Old Veøy Church Veøya c. 1200
Sekken Sekken Church Sekken 1908
Vistdal Vistdal Church Myklebostad 1869

Festivals

[edit]

The Moldejazz jazz festival is held in Molde every July. Moldejazz is one of the largest and oldest jazz festivals in Europe, and one of the most important. An estimated 40,000 tickets are sold for the more than a hundred events during the festival. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors visit the city during the one-week-long festival.

Every August, Molde and Nesset are hosts to the Bjørnson Festival, an international literature festival. Established by the poet Knut Ødegård in connection with the 250-year anniversary of Molde, the festival is named in honour of the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910). It is the oldest and the most internationally acclaimed literature festival in Norway.

In addition to the two major events, a number of minor festivals are held annually. Byfest, the city's celebration of incorporation, is an arrangement by local artists, coinciding with the anniversary of the royal charter of 29 June 1742.

Education

[edit]

Molde University College offers a wide range of academic opportunities, from nursing and health-related studies, to economics and administrative courses. The school is Norway's leading college in logistics,[43] and well established as a centre for research and academic programmes in information technology, with degrees up to and including PhD.

Transportation

[edit]

Hurtigruta calls on Molde every day, on its journey between Bergen and Kirkenes. The nearest railway station is Åndalsnes, the terminus for the Rauma Line.

The local airport is Molde Airport which has several daily flights to Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, as well as weekly flights to other domestic and international destinations.

The European route E39 and Norwegian County Road 64 both pass through the municipality. The city of Molde is connected to Fræna Municipality (to the north) by the Tussen Tunnel. The city is connected to the Røvika and Nesjestranda part of the municipality by the Fannefjord Tunnel and Bolsøy Bridge, significantly shortening the drive by avoiding driving all the way around the Fannefjorden. The proposed Langfjord Tunnel would connect Molde Municipality to Rauma Municipality via a tunnel under the Langfjorden.

Sports

[edit]

Molde hosts a variety of sports teams, most notably the football team, Molde FK, which plays in the Eliteserien, the top division in the Norwegian football league system. Their home matches are played at Aker stadion, inaugurated in 1998, which holds a record attendance of 13,308. The team is five-time league champions (2011, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022), five-time Norwegian Cup winners (1994, 2005, 2013, 2014 and 2021-22), and has made numerous appearances in European tournaments, including the UEFA Champions League. The club was founded in 1911, during Molde's period of great British and Continental influx, and was first named "International", since it predominantly played teams made up from crews of foreign vessels visiting the city.

In addition to a number of international players, the city has also produced several ski jumpers, cross-country skiers and alpine skiers of international merit.

Other sports include the accomplished team handball clubs (Molde Elite, SK Træff, SK Rival), athletics teams (IL Molde-Olymp), skiing clubs, basketball and volleyball teams.

International relations

[edit]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Twin towns — sister cities

[edit]

Molde has three sister cities. They are:[44]

Notable residents

[edit]

Public service & business

[edit]
O.A.Qvam, ca.1900

The Arts

[edit]
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 1909
Linnéa Myhre, 2011

Sport

[edit]
Kjetil Rekdal, 2006
Ragnhild Mowinckel, 2017

References

[edit]
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  7. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  8. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Molde.
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