1994 in Norway
Events in the year 1994 in Norway.
Incumbents
- Monarch – Harald V
- Prime Minister – Gro Harlem Brundtland
- President of the Storting – Kirsti Kolle Grøndahl
Events
- 1 January – the Agreement on the European Economic Area comes into effect.
- 6 January – Grefsen Post Office is robbed for, the largest post office robbery in Norway to date.
- 7 January – Kaci Kullmann Five announces her stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party.
- 26 January – Biologist Dag Olav Hessen survives a hurricane on mount Norefjell, having gone missing since 22 January.
- 31 January – The Bjugn case reaches its verdict in Frostating Court; the accused party is acquitted.
- 12 February – Edvard Munch's painting The Scream is stolen from the National Gallery of Norway.
- 26 March – Elisabeth Andreassen and Jan Werner Danielsen win the Melodi Grand Prix 1994, earning a spot in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994.
- 10 April – Jan Petersen is formally elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party.
- 15–17 April – The Progress Party national convention at Bolkesjø results in with the libertarian section of the party losing all power to the traditionalists.
- 22 April – Explorer Børge Ousland becomes the first person to reach the North Pole unsupported on foot.
- 7 May – The Scream is recovered and three men arrested for its theft and attempt to sell it, among them Pål Enger.
- 9 May – Explorer Erling Kagge summits Mount Everest, thus becoming the first person to complete the "Three Poles Challenge".
- 16 May – Musician Varg Vikernes is sentenced in Eidsivating Court to 21 years of prison for murder and arson.
- 24 May – Minister of Finance Sigbjørn Johnsen survives a vote of no confidence in Parliament, related to the recent appointment of Torstein Moland as Bank of Norway governor.
- 18 June – A strike among NRK personnel ends in a deal between the unions and NRK, having lasted since the previous Sunday.
- 30 June – A strike among nurses is subdued by the government of Norway, following less than three days of striking.
- 1 July – The emergency phone numbers change from 001, 002 and 003 to 110, 112 and 113.
- 2 July – Artist Sigmund Årseth decorates a barn in Vang Municipality with a caricature of Gro Harlem Brundtland milking a cow, becoming one of the iconic expressions of the EU debate in Norway.
- 15 August – Per Hatling announces his resignation as chief executive officer of Norske Meierier, effective 1 September.
- 21 August – A bomb attack against the Blitz House at 03:42 hours injures none.
- 16 September – The jeweller David-Andersen in downtown Oslo is robbed of worth of jewelry.
- 28 September – Six Norwegians die in the MS Estonia disaster.
- 28–29 September – Torp hostage crisis: Two Swedish robbers take two police officers and two pensioners hostage at the Sandefjord Airport, Torp. The police free the hostages and kill one of the hostage takers. It is the first incident in peace time that a Norwegian police chief has given the orders to shoot to kill.
- 7 October – Kåre Kristiansen retires from the Norwegian Nobel Committee following the committee's decision to co-award Yassir Arafat the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 13 October – Fugitive Souhaila Andrawes is arrested at Grefsen for her role in the 1977 Lufthansa Flight 181 airjacking.
- 15 October – Death of Silje Redergård
- 31 October – Arne Solli becomes Chief of Defence of Norway, succeeding Torolf Rein.
- 1 November – Two new currencies are put into circulation, the coin and the bill.
- 21 November – Per Liland is exhonorated by Eidsivating Court for a double murder committed in 1969, though having already served a life sentence in prison.
- 28 November – The 1994 Norwegian European Union membership referendum: Norway votes no to EU membership, 15 days after Sweden votes yes.
- 8 December – The Hitra Tunnel is opened, being the world's deepest undersea tunnel at the depth of 264 metres.
- 10 December – The Nobel Peace Prize is formally awarded to Yassir Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin in Oslo.
- 12 December – Erik Jarve is fired as chief executive of Oslo Stock Exchange, effective immediately.
- 24 December – Liv Arnesen becomes the first woman to reach the South Pole by land.
- 27 December – Cato Zahl Pedersen becomes the first disabled person to reach the South Pole by land. His expedition party started alongside Liv Arnesen.
- Reform 94 is implemented in secondary schools, giving vocational education the structure of two years in school, two years in business training.
- A reform in higher education merges hundreds of state colleges into selected university colleges.
Anniversaries
- 15 April – Oslo Stock Exchange celebrates 175 years.
- 125 years since the establishment of Dagbladet.
- 250 years since the police force of Oslo was founded.
Popular culture
Sports
- 6 January – Espen Bredesen wins the 1993-94 Four Hills Tournament.
- 7-9 January – the 1994 European Speed Skating Championships are held in Hamar.
- 5 February – The Olympic torch of in Morgedal, which was lit in 1993, is extinguished in favour of the official 1994 Winter Olympics relay torch that was lit at Olympia.
- 12–27 February – The 1994 Winter Olympics is held in Lillehammer.
- 13 February – As a part of Norway's performance at the 1994 Winter Olympics, Johann Olav Koss sets a new world record in 5000 metres speed skating in 6:34.96 minutes.
- 16 February – Johann Olav Koss sets a new world record in 1500 metres speed skating in 1:51.29 minutes.
- 20 February – Johann Olav Koss sets a new world record in 10,000 metres speed skating in 13:30.55 minutes.
- 10–19 March – The 1994 Winter Paralympics is held in Lillehammer.
- 18 March – Espen Bredesen breaks the world record in ski jumping, reaching 209 metres in training at the Ski Flying World Championships. The record will last for three years.
- 19 March – The 1993–94 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup concludes, with Kjetil André Aamodt emerging as the overall men's winner.
- 27 March – The 1993–94 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup concludes, with Espen Bredesen emerging as the overall men's winner.
- 19 May – Johann Olav Koss announces his decision to retire from active sports.
- 18–28 June – Norway contests the 1994 FIFA World Cup, their first World Cup outing since 1938, but are eliminated after three matches.
- 21 July – Benjamin Jensen wins the decathlon event at the 1994 World Junior Championships in Athletics.
- 26 July – Jan Kvalheim and Bjørn Maaseide win the 1994 Goodwill Games in beach volleyball.
- August – Jan Kvalheim and Bjørn Maaseide win the 1994 European Beach Volleyball Championships.
- 6 August – It is publicly announced that sprinter Aham Okeke failed two doping tests on 12 and 20 July. Okeke would have been a medal candidate at the 1994 European Athletics Championships, but is stopped at the airport before catching the plane to Helsinki.
- 7–14 August – The 1994 European Athletics Championships is held with Norway winning 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.
- 9 August – the opening ceremony of the 14th World Fly Fishing Championships is held in Ringebu Municipality.
- 23 August – Monica Valvik wins the road race at the 1994 UCI Road World Championships.
- 24 September – Norway win the bronze medal at the 1994 European Women's Handball Championship
- 24 September – the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships are held in Oslo.
- 12 December – Christian Ruud reaches 83rd place on the ATP World Ranking, breaking into the top 100 for the first time.
- The 1994 World Powerlifting Championships in Lillehammer is moved to Johannesburg, following a drought in the sponsor market of the Olympic city.
- Marit Breivik becomes head coach of Norway women's national handball team.
- Petter Thoresen wins the 1994 Orienteering World Cup.
Notable births
January to March
- 1 January – Emilie Hegh Arntzen, handball player.
- 4 January – Hermann Tomasgaard, competitive sailor.
- 7 January – Lisa Marie Ness Klungland, politician.
- 10 January – Ohi Omoijuanfo, footballer.
- 12 January – Markus Fjørtoft, footballer.
- 17 January – Kristoffer Haraldseid, footballer.
- 17 January – Eirik and Kristin Haugstad, footballers.
- 18 January – Magnus Blakstad, footballer.
- 25 February – Marit Røsberg Jacobsen, handballer.
- 27 January – Kristoffer Zachariassen, footballer.
- 27 January – Robin Bjørnholm-Jatta, footballer.
- 6 February – Vetle Dragsnes, footballer.
- 14 February – Kristian Blummenfelt, triathlete.
- 21 February – Kristoffer Haugen, footballer.
- 24 February – Fredrik Mani Pålerud, footballer.
- 5 March – Kristin Venn, handballer.
- 9 March – Henrik Dahlum, footballer.
- 13 March – Marie Rønningen, competitive sailor.
- 17 March – Renate Blindheim, football manager.
- 20 March – Silje Waade, handballer.
- 25 March – Jakob Glesnes, footballer.
- 29 March – Fredrik Sjølstad, footballer.
April to June
- 6 April – Stefan Hagerup, footballer.
- 7 April – Maria Therese Tviberg, alpine skier.
- 9 April – Jo David Meyer Lysne, guitarist.
- 10 April – Anders Gundersen, footballer.
- 11 April – Marius Lundemo, footballer.
- 11 April – Jonas Grønner, footballer.
- 12 April – Julie Bergan, singer.
- 13 April – Veton Berisha, footballer.
- 18 April – Martin Rønning Ovenstad, footballer.
- 26 April – Gøran Johannessen, handballer.
- 27 April – Maria Navarro Skaranger, novelist.
- 1 May – Daniel Granli, footballer.
- 9 May – Martin Sesaker, curler.
- 11 May – Guro Kleven Hagen, classical violinist.
- 13 May – Ole Kristian Lauvli, footballer.
- 18 May – Simen Juklerød, footballer.
- 29 May – Nicholas Fadler Martinsen, competitive sailor.
- 5 June – Aleksander Foosnæs, footballer.
- 21 June – Sondre Mulongo Nystrøm, singer.
- 24 June – August Baskår Pedersen, handballer.
- 30 June – Andreas Sjalg Unneland, politician.
July to September
- 4 July – Hanna Bredal Oftedal, handballer.
- 4 July – Jon Anders Lindstad, freestyle skier.
- 4 July – Agnete Johnsen, singer.
- 7 July – Ole Selnæs, footballer.
- 11 July – Martin Helseth, competitive rower.
- 16 July – Adrian Smiseth Sejersted, alpine skier.
- 16 July – Torbjørn Bergerud, handballer.
- 22 July – Sigurd Rosted, footballer.
- 25 July – Vilde Johansen, handballer.
- 26 July – Pål Fjelde, footballer.
- 26 July – Guro Reiten, footballer.
- 4 August – Mohamed Elyounoussi, footballer.
- 16 August – Eili Harboe, actress.
- 21 August – Tonje Enkerud, handballer.
- 24 August – Petter Strand, footballer.
- 30 August – Erik André Solbakken, competitive rower.
- 8 September – Ghayas Zahid, footballer.
- 13 September – Jibril Bojang, footballer.
- 25 September – Idar Nordby Lysgård, footballer.
- 25 September – Ingrid Stenevik, footballer.
October to December
- 3 October – Andreas Hollingen, footballer.
- 4 October – Kai Steffen Østensen, politician.
- 8 October – Fitim Kastrati, footballer.
- 13 October – Olav Øby, footballer.
- 18 October – Sindre Mauritz-Hansen, footballer.
- 2 November – Aleksander Stokkebø, politician.
- 3 November – Felix Stridsberg-Usterud, freestyle skier.
- 9 November – Katrine Lund, sport shooter.
- 11 November – Martine Steller Mortensen, competitive sailor.
- 7 December – Viljar Vevatne, footballer.
- 8 December – Myra
- 17 December – Birger Meling, footballer.
- 17 December – Johan Hoel, cross-country skier.
- 18 December – Vilde Ingstad, handballer.
- 18 December – Sophie Elise, influencer.
- 31 December – Espen Garnås, footballer.
Date missing
- Emily Sørensen, fantasy author.
- Svanhild Amdal Telnes, author.
- , cheerleader.
Notable deaths
January
- 6 January – Per Palle Storm, sculptor.
- 7 January – Øistein Sommerfeldt, composer.
- 7 January – Ernst Hansen, politician.
- 7 January – Edvard Elsrud, non-fiction writer.
- 8 January – Harry Boye Karlsen, footballer.
- 10 January – Per Skift, actor.
- 12 January – Teddy Røwde, painter.
- 14 January – Agnar Mykle, author.
- 15 January – Jørgen Adolf Lier, politician
- 18 January – Tullik Helsing, sports diver.
- 20 January – Einar Bårdsen, politician.
- 23 January – Johan Jørgen Holst, politician.
- 24 January – Helge Vatsend, lyricist and novelist.
- 24 January – Astri Fosser, politician.
- 25 January – Unni Kielland, painter.
- 26 January – Arnt J. C. Mørland, ship-owner.
- 28 January – Harald Løvenskiold, businessperson.
- 29 January – Jacob Vaage, historian and museum curator.
- 30 January – Finn Arnestad, composer.
February
- 4 February – Per Gulowsen, diplomat.
- 9 February – Tom Pettersen, swimmer.
- 14 February – Halfdan Petterøe, equestrian.
- 15 February – Reidar Bull, judge.
- 15 February – Rafael Goldin, museum director.
- 20 February – Kaare Steel Groos, politician
- 20 February – Rolf Jacobsen, writer.
- 23 February – Ragnar Christiansen, politician
- 23 February – Odd Højdahl, trade unionist and politician.
- 24 February – Tor Ørvig, paleontologist.
- 26 February – Odd Furøy, painter.
- 28 February – Arne Ekeland, painter.
March
- 3 March – Tønnes Sirevåg, school principal.
- 5 March – Tor Frøysaker, physician.
- 7 March – Rolf Rynning Eriksen, resistance member.
- 7 March – Arild Kalvik, trade unionist.
- 8 March – Knut Haukelid, resistance member.
- 13 March – Magne Lerheim, politician.
- 14 March – Solveig Tunold, literary historian.
- 15 March – Erling Sverdrup, resistance member and statistician.
- 16 March – Asbjørn Andersen, politician.
- 21 March – Paula Nordhus, politician
- 27 March – Vigdis Rojahn, children's writer.
- 28 March – Sten Nilsen, illustrator.
- 30 March – Bjørn Aronsen, animation film director.
April
- 2 April – Inggard Rosseland, painter and printmaker.
- 2 April – Rowland Greenberg, jazz trumpeter.
- 7 April – Sigmund Ruud, ski jumper.
- 7 April – Karl Otto Hoff, jazz drummer.
- 9 April – Bjarne Fidjestøl, philologist.
- 10 April – Finn Emanuel Olsen, painter and writer.
- 11 April – Unn Kleve, printmaker.
- 15 April – Finn Alexander, civil servant.
- 19 April – Nina Smid, politician.
- 20 April – Egil Sundar, newspaper editor.
- 20 April – Sigmund Selberg, mathematician.
- 24 April – Leif B. Lillegaard, writer.
- 24 April – Ivar Jerven, painter and printmaker.
- 24 April – Marta Schumann, novelist.
- 25 April – Per Tannum, furniture designer.
- 28 April – Olav Nordrå, writer
- 29 April – Kaleb Nytrøen, police officer.
- 29 April – Rein Henriksen, lawyer and industrialist.
May
- 1 May – Gunnar Fredriksen, athlete.
- 7 May – Erik Kullerud, children's writer.
- 8 May – Einar Diesen, newspaper editor.
- 8 May – Rolf Sjøl, businessperson.
- 18 May – Hans Stenseth, flautist.
- 22 May – Harald Reinertsen, politician.
- 23 May – Olav H. Hauge, poet.
- 28 May – Erik Rinde, jurist and social scientist
- 29 May – Aasta Voss, actress.
June
- 2 June – Odd Dahl, nuclear physicist.
- 2 June – Ole Hegge, cross-country skier
- 16 June – Chrix Dahl, painter, printmaker and illustrator.
- 16 June – Ivar Orgland, philologist.
- 17 June – Eigil Olaf Liane, politician
- 21 June – Jan Fredrik Wiborg, civil engineer
- 24 June – Thorstein Guthe, fencer.
- 25 June – Helga Waabenø, missionary.
- 26 June – Jan-Erik Aarberg, sailor.
July
- 4 July – Liv Nilsson, trade unionist.
- 6 July – Kåre Prytz, writer.
- 6 July – Knut Lykke, diplomat.
- 6 July – Olav Benestad, activist.
- 12 July – Finn Andreas Westbye, musician.
- 12 July – Arne Johnson, illustrator.
- 16 July – Dagfinn Mannsåker, archivist and historian
- 26 July – Knud Haaning, painter.
- 29 July – Gorgus Coward, school administrator.
August
- 3 August – Fritz Harstrup, ceramist.
- 4 August – Rolf Greger Strøm, luger.
- 5 August – Paul Sæthrang, footballer.
- 16 August – Erik Anker, sailor
- 16 August – Kaare Espolin Johnson, painter.
- 18 August – Anfinn Stigen, philosopher.
- 23 August – Lars Holen, politician
- 25 August – Leif Eldring, judge and civil servant.
- 25 August – Ingrid Wyller, rector.
- 30 August – Olav Gjærevoll, botanist and politician.
September
- 2 September – Jan Willums, businessperson.
- 4 September – Gert Jynge, painter.
- 9 September – Soffi Schønning, opera singer.
- 9 September – Hagbarth Schjøtt Sr., businessperson.
- 15 September – Peter Theodor Viken, politician.
- 15 September – Kai Sjøberg, footballer.
- 20 September – Bjarne Øen, Chief of Defence.
- 24 September – Stein Hamnes, politician.
October
- 5 October – Anker Rogstad, criminal and crime novelist.
- 5 October – Harald Ofstad, philosopher.
- 6 October – Per Mørch Hansson, businessperson.
- 7 October – Agnes Vold, priest.
- 8 October – Ivan Th. Rosenqvist, geologist.
- 12 October – Edel Eckblad, actress
- 15 October – Dagny Haraldsen, Queen mother.
- 18 October – Ivar Kornelius Eikrem, politician
- 23 October – Helge Røstad, judge
- 23 October – Ivar Refseth, politician.
- 23 October – Tobias Gedde-Dahl, physician.
- 23 October – Arvid S. Kapelrud, theologian.
- 26 October – Tutta Rolf, actress.
- 29 October – Einar Falck, businessperson.
- 29 October – Oscar Midtlyng, athlete.
- 31 October – Erling Stordahl, singer.
November
- 3 November – Andreas Tømmerbakke, resistance member.
- 5 November – Christian Christensen, newspaper editor.
- 6 November – Edvard Natvig, athlete.
- 7 November – Charles Mathiesen, speed skater
- 7 November – Thor Inge Kristiansen, actor.
- 9 November – Erling Christophersen, explorer, botanist and diplomat.
- 11 November – Harry Johan Olai Klippenvåg, politician
- 11 November – Jan Johnsen, politician.
- 15 November – Asbjørn Lindhjem, politician
- 15 November – Hallvard Magerøy, philologist.
- 18 November – Henning Sinding-Larsen, journalist.
- 27 November – Toralf Tollefsen, accordionist.
- 29 November – Ferdinand Strøm, dentist.
December
- 3 December – Knut Mørch Hansson, actor.
- 4 December – Beate Mulholland, children's writer.
- 6 December – Annette Thommessen, human rights activist.
- 9 December – Hans Egil Rønbeck, politician.
- 11 December – Magnus Andersen, politician
- 12 December – Sverre Oddvar Andresen, politician
- 12 December – Rolf Gjermundsen, politician
- 12 December – Nanna Münster Ebbing, politician.
- 13 December – Georg Hygen, botanist.
- 13 December – Erik Jarve, stock exchange executive.
- 14 December – Trygve Leivestad, Supreme Court Justice.
- 17 December – Ella Hval, actress.
- 28 December – Arnljot Norwich, politician.
- 30 December – Sverre Lysgaard, sociologist.
- 30 December – Kjell Samuelsen, politician.
- 31 December – Reidar Helgesen, politician.
- Docile, dog belonging to Egil Olsen.