Heggedal is a small old industrial village tucked into the suburban landscape of Asker. It sits about 25 kilometres southwest of Oslo, and what makes it interesting is how it perfectly captures Norway's transition from industrial past to modern commuter life. The village grew up around industry back in the day.
There was an old factory here that employed many locals for decades. The industrial buildings still stand, though most have been converted to other uses now. You can see the old brick structures as you drive through the centre.
What's quite clever is that the railway line still runs through Heggedal. The train used to continue all the way to Drammen, but they closed that section years ago. Now it terminates at Spikkestad, further down the line. The Heggedal station is still active though, which makes this a popular spot for people who work in Oslo but want to live somewhere quieter.
Most of Heggedal consists of typical Norwegian suburban housing. Nothing fancy, but well-maintained family homes with decent gardens. It has that practical Norwegian approach to town planning - everything you need, nothing flashy.
One thing you might not expect is that Xplore Norway has their headquarters here. It's quite fitting actually - a travel company based in a place that represents authentic Norwegian suburban life rather than the tourist hotspots.
The village sits in pleasant rolling terrain, typical of this part of Akershus. Nothing dramatic, but the kind of landscape that Norwegians actually live in day to day. There are walking paths through the surrounding forests if you fancy stretching your legs.
Be aware that Heggedal is not a tourist destination in the traditional sense. There are no major attractions or museums. It's more interesting as an example of how former industrial communities have adapted to become commuter towns
There was an old factory here that employed many locals for decades. The industrial buildings still stand, though most have been converted to other uses now. You can see the old brick structures as you drive through the centre.
What's quite clever is that the railway line still runs through Heggedal. The train used to continue all the way to Drammen, but they closed that section years ago. Now it terminates at Spikkestad, further down the line. The Heggedal station is still active though, which makes this a popular spot for people who work in Oslo but want to live somewhere quieter.
Most of Heggedal consists of typical Norwegian suburban housing. Nothing fancy, but well-maintained family homes with decent gardens. It has that practical Norwegian approach to town planning - everything you need, nothing flashy.
One thing you might not expect is that Xplore Norway has their headquarters here. It's quite fitting actually - a travel company based in a place that represents authentic Norwegian suburban life rather than the tourist hotspots.
The village sits in pleasant rolling terrain, typical of this part of Akershus. Nothing dramatic, but the kind of landscape that Norwegians actually live in day to day. There are walking paths through the surrounding forests if you fancy stretching your legs.
Be aware that Heggedal is not a tourist destination in the traditional sense. There are no major attractions or museums. It's more interesting as an example of how former industrial communities have adapted to become commuter towns