thumbnail, 250px, Grefsen Church Grefsen is a neighbourhood in the city of

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

. Grefsen was a part of the municipality of Aker before the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, later incorporated into Oslo. Together with

Kjelsås Kjelsås, sometimes called Kjelsaas, is one of the northern neighbourhoods of Oslo situated in Nordre Aker, the northern borough of Oslo, Norway. History Together with Grefsen, Kjelsås was part of the borough ''Grefsen-Kjelsås'' until Ja ...

, Grefsen then formed the borough Grefsen-Kjelsås until 1 January 2004, when they became part of the new borough of

Nordre Aker Nordre Aker (Northern Aker) is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. History This area became part of the city of Oslo in 1948. Before that it was a part of Aker municipality in the former Akershus county. Demographics and housing With a popula ...

. The Gjøvik Railway Line goes through the area, but Grefsen Station is actually located closer to the neighbourhood of

Disen Disen is a neighborhood divided between the boroughs of Bjerke and Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway. Disen was originally a manor south of Grefsenåsen. The name stems from dís in Norse mythology. Disen farm was parceled out as a residential area ...

. The Kjelsås Tram Line also runs through the area. The local sports field Grefsen stadion is the home field of

Kjelsås IL Kjelsås, sometimes called Kjelsaas, is one of the northern neighbourhoods of Oslo situated in Nordre Aker, the northern borough of Oslo, Norway. History Together with Grefsen, Kjelsås was part of the borough ''Grefsen-Kjelsås'' until Ja ...

. There are four schools in the area, Grefsen Elementary School (year 1-7), Engebråten Middle School (year 8-10), Morellbakken Middle School (year 8-10) and Nydalen High School (year 11-13). Nydalen High School used to be Grefsen High School until 2014, when it was renovated and changed name. Grefsen Church (''Grefsen kirke'') was consecrated in 1940.

The name

The neighbourhood is named after the old farm Grefsen ( Norse ', from '). The first element is ' 'steep hillside' (derived from the verb ' 'dig (out)'), the last element is ' f 'meadow'. The old farm had

Akerselva Akerselva or Akerselven ( en, Aker River) is a river which flows through Oslo. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo and Grønland, whereby it finally ends a ...

as its western border, and the hillside/riverside down to the river is very steep. The adjacent hill Grefsenåsen is named after the farm.

Notable people

* Peter Andreas Morell, campaigned for better education for Grefsen *

Jon Øigarden Jon Øigarden (born 31 May 1971) is a Norwegian actor, who is well known for his role as journalist Peter Verås in the TV series ''Mammon'', Jarl Varg in Norsemen, and other Norwegian films. Career Jon Øigarden was educated at the Norwegian Na ...

, Norwegian Actor grew up in Grefsen

References

Neighbourhoods of Oslo {{Oslo-geo-stub