Verdal is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The

administrative centre An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located. In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...

of the municipality is the town of

Verdalsøra Verdalsøra is a town in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. The town is the administrative center of the municipality. It is located along the Trondheimsfjord at the mouth of the river Verdalselva. The village of Vinne lies ...

. Some villages in the municipality include

Forbregd/Lein Forbregd and Lein are two small adjoining villages in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. Statistics Norway classifies the urban area as Forbregd/Lein. The village area is located about northeast of the town of Verdalsøra a ...

Lysthaugen Lysthaugen is a village in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the southern side of the river Verdalselva, about east of the town of Verdalsøra and about southwest of the village of Vuku. The mountain Ski ...

Stiklestad Stiklestad is a village and parish in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located east of the town of Verdalsøra and about southeast of the village of Forbregd/Lein. The village is mainly known as the site of the ...

, Trones,

Vera Vera may refer to: Names *Vera (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) *Vera (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name) **Vera (), archbishop of the archdiocese of Tarrag ...

Vinne Vinne is a village in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located just south of the Verdalselva river, about southeast of the town of Verdalsøra and about the same distance to the west of the village of Lysthaugen. ...

, and

Vuku Vuku is a village in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Helgåa and Inna where they become the Verdalselva river. The village is about west of the village of Vera and about e ...

. The municipality is the 53rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Verdal is the 81st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 14,955. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 3.9% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of ''Værdalen'' was established on 1 January 1838 (see

formannskapsdistrikt () is the name for Norwegian local self-government districts that were legally enacted on 1 January 1838. This system of municipalities was created in a bill approved by the Parliament of Norway and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January ...

law). It is one of very few municipalities in Norway with unchanged borders since that date, although the spelling of the name was modified to ''Verdal''. On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old

Nord-Trøndelag Nord-Trøndelag (; "North Trøndelag") was a county constituting the northern part of the present-day Trøndelag county in Norway. The county was established in 1804 when the old Trondhjems amt was divided into two: Nordre Trondhjems amt and S ...

county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was ''Veradalr'' (from the word ''Verardalr''). The first element is the

genitive case In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...

of the river name ''Ver'' (now called Verdalselva) and the last element is ''dalr'' which means " valley" or "dale". The meaning of the river name is probably "the quiet one". The name was historically spelled Værdalen.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 15 December 1972. They show a gold cross on a red background. The cross is taken from a large painting in the

Nidaros Cathedral Nidaros Cathedral ( no, Nidarosdomen / Nidaros Domkirke) is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Trøndelag county. It is built over the burial site of Olav II of Norway, King Olav II (c. 995–1030, reigned 1015–102 ...

in Trondheim, in which the death of King Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olaf) is shown. He died in the Battle of Stiklestad, the site of which is in Verdal municipality. In the painting, he holds a shield with the typical cross. To commemorate the battle, the cross was taken as arms for the municipality.

Churches

The

Church of Norway The Church of Norway ( nb, Den norske kirke, nn, Den norske kyrkja, se, Norgga girku, sma, Nöörjen gærhkoe) is an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway. The church b ...

has four parishes () within the municipality of Verdal. It is part of the

Sør-Innherad prosti This list of churches in Nidaros is a list of the Church of Norway churches in the Diocese of Nidaros which covers all of Trøndelag county in Norway. The list is divided into several sections, one for each deanery in the diocese. Administrati ...

(

deanery A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residenc ...

) in the

Diocese of Nidaros Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Trøndelag county in Central Norway and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. Since 10 September 2017, the Bishop of Nidaros is Herborg ...

History

Battle of Stiklestad

The most famous battle in Norwegian history, the Battle of Stiklestad, took place at

in Verdal in the year 1030. The

Stiklestad Church Stiklestad Church ( no, Stiklestad kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Verdal municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Stiklestad. It is one of the churches for the Stiklestad parish which is part ...

was built afterwards at the place where King Olav Haraldsson, later redesigned as St. Olaf, died during the battle. Olavsstøtta, a memorial pillar dedicated to St. Olaf, was erected in 1807 to commemorate the Battle of Stiklestad.

Verdalsraset

Early on the night of 19 May 1893, the most deadly

landslide Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated grade (slope), slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of ...

in modern Norwegian history, known as ''Verdalsraset'', took place in Verdal. It killed 116 people and at least 500 animals when approximately 100 farms were swept away. A wet winter and several spring floods in the river made the

quick clay Quick clay, also known as Leda clay and Champlain Sea clay in Canada, is any of several distinctively sensitive glaciomarine clays found in Canada, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Finland, the United States and other locations around the world. The clay ...

under the topsoil in a large area of the valley turn into a fluid. The slide moved about of clay, completely reshaping the topography of the area, including moving the course of the river.

Culture

Råning

This culture is known for young people interested in cars, spending most of their time improving, enhancing, and styling their cars, and then driving them for display on a particular route around the town centre. This is not only positive, as they do show some general disregard for common laws and regulations. People living in the town center are at times bothered by noise, usually music being played at high volumes from their cars.

Stiklestad

Verdal is the location of the Stiklestad National Cultural Centre.

The Saint Olav Drama ''Saint Olav Drama'' ( no, Spelet om Heilag Olav) is an outdoor theatre performance played every end of July in Stiklestad in Verdal, Norway. The play commemorates the Battle of Stiklestad that took place in the year 1030, and which resulted in ...

appears here on an open stage every year in July. The play centers on events leading up to the Battle of Stiklestad.

Geography

Verdal is centered on the Verdal valley. The river Verdalselva runs through the valley into the Trondheimsfjord at

. The rivers Helgåa and Inna join at

to form the Verdalselva. The lake

Veresvatnet Veresvatnet or Veressjøen is a lake in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. The lake lies in the eastern part of the municipality, just west of the border with Sweden and just south of Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Par ...

flows into the river Helgåa and the lake

Innsvatnet Innsvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. The lake lies in the eastern part of the municipality, just west of the border with Sweden. The lake is the headwaters for the river Inna, which later flows into th ...

flows into the river Inna. The large lake

Leksdalsvatnet Leksdalvatnet is a lake in Trøndelag county, Norway that lies in the municipalities of Steinkjer and Verdal. It is located south of the town of Steinkjer (town), Steinkjer and northeast of the town of Verdalsøra, about east of the Trondheimsfj ...

lies on the Verdal- Steinkjer border. The southern tip of the large Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Park lies in the northeastern part of Verdal.

Rinnleiret Rinnleiret is an area on the border of the municipalities of Levanger and Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is partially a nature reserve and it contains one of the county's largest beaches. Also located in the area is a former Royal Norwe ...

is a beach area along the Levanger-Verdal border in the west.

Climate

Verdal is situated along the innermost part of Trondheimsfjord and has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with mild winters for this climate. Using the winter threshold as in the original Köppen climate classification, Verdal has an oceanic climate (Cfb). The all-time high was recorded in July 2018. The all-time low was set in January 1987. The average date for first overnight freeze (below ) in autumn is October 6 (1981-2010 average).

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Verdal, are responsible for

primary education Primary education or elementary education is typically the first stage of formal education, coming after preschool/kindergarten and before secondary school. Primary education takes place in ''primary schools'', ''elementary schools'', or first ...

(through 10th grade), outpatient

health services Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wiktionary:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physical and menta ...

, senior citizen services, unemployment and other

social services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...

, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council () of Verdal is made up of 35 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Mayor

The mayors of Verdal (incomplete list): *2019–present: Pål Sverre Fikse ( Sp) *2005-2019:

Bjørn Iversen Bjørn Iversen (born 18 March 1953) is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. From 1989 to 1990, during the cabinet Syse, Iversen was appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture. He served as a deputy representative to the ...

( Ap) *1999-2005:

Gerd Janne Kristoffersen Gerd Janne Kristoffersen (born 18 November 1952 in Verdal) is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Nord-Trøndelag in 2005. She had previously served as a deputy representative during the ...

(Ap) *1995-1999: Knut Einar Steinsli (Sp)

Economy

Offshore industry (

Aker Verdal Aker Verdal AS formerly known as Aker Kværner Verdal is a construction yard for large steel constructions and substructures for offshore oil platforms. The yard is owned by Kvaerner and is located in Verdal in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. T ...

) and agriculture are two of the most important parts of Verdal's economy. Despite its small size, Verdal is a municipality with great personality and cultural integrity. After several

lottery A lottery is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of ...

grand prizes were received by some lucky inhabitants of Verdal, it is also known as one of the great ''"Lotto-bygds"'' of Norway (Small places with high a concentration of lottery wins in the national game of Lotto).

Transportation

European route E6 European route E6 ( no, Europavei 6, sv, Europaväg 6, or simply E6) is the main north-south thoroughfare through Norway as well as the west coast of Sweden. It is long and runs from the southern tip of Sweden at Trelleborg, into Norway and t ...

runs north and south through

, connecting the municipality with Steinkjer to the north and Levanger to the south. The Nordland Line also runs north and south through the municipality. There are two stations in Verdal:

Verdal Station Verdal Station ( no, Verdal stasjon) is a railway station located in the town of Verdalsøra in the municipality of Verdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. History The station was opened on 1 November 1904 on the Hell–Sunnan Line as the section ...

and Bergsgrav Station in

Notable people

Ingrid Storholmen @ Oslo bokfestival 2011

Johannes Brun Johannes Finne Brun (10 March 1832 – 7 March 1890) was a Norwegian stage actor. Brun was born in Verdal. He made his stage debut as the character "Henrik" in Holberg's comedy ''Den Vægelsindede'' on 2 January 1850, at the first ordinary ...

(1832 in Verdal – 1890) a Norwegian stage actor * Oluf Rygh (1833 in Verdal – 1899) a noted archaeologist, philologist and historian *

Olav Braarud Olav Braarud (2 February 1885 – 4 April 1969) was a Norwegian director and engineer. Born in Verdal, Nordre Trondhjems Amt, he travelled to Darmstadt, Germany, where he graduated as an engineer in 1910. In 1912, he became operational engineer of ...

(1885 in Verdal – 1969) operational engineer of

Holmenkolbanen A/S Holmenkolbanen was a company that owned and operated part of the Oslo Tramway and Oslo Metro in Norway from 1898 until 1975 when services were taken over by the majority owner Oslo Sporveier. Holmenkolbanen opened the Holmenkoll Line in 1898, ...

Sig Haugdahl Sigurd Olson "Sig" Haugdahl (January 10, 1891 – February 4, 1970) was an IMCA "Big Car" (now sprint car) champion 1927 – 1932 and an early promoter of stock car racing in the United States. Background Sig Haugdahl was born on the Tiller ...

(1891 in Verdal – 1970) an IMCA "Big Car" champion 1927–1932, promoted stock car racing in the USA * Trygve Braarud (1903 in Verdal – 1985) a Norwegian botanist and academic *

Knut Getz Wold Knut Getz Wold (3 August 1915 – 9 October 1987) was a Norwegian economist and civil servant, who served as the governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1970 to 1985. He was born in Verdal in Nord-Trøndelag, as a son of district physician T ...

(1915 in Verdal – 1987) an economist, civil servant and governor of the

Central Bank of Norway Norges Bank / Noregs Bank is the central bank of Norway. The bank shall promote economic stability in Norway. Norges Bank also manages the Government Pension Fund of Norway and the bank’s own foreign exchange reserves. History The history of ...

1970–1985. *

Arnold Haukeland Arnold Haukeland (28 March 1920 – 18 June 1983) was a Norwegian sculptor. Biography He was born at Verdal in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. He was the son of Arnold Martin Haukeland (1891–1977) and Lilly Karoline Wallem (1896–1969). He att ...

(1920 in Verdal – 1983) a Norwegian sculptor *

Asmund Bjørken Asmund Bjørken (19 August 1933 – 29 January 2018) was a Norwegian musician who played the accordion and saxophone in the genres of jazz and folk. He was self-taught. Career Bjørken was part of ''Harry Waagens Orchestra'', a central band on ...

(1933 in Verdal – 2018) a Norwegian musician who played the jazz and folk accordion and saxophone *

Vigdis Ystad Vigdis Ystad (13 January 1942 – 7 December 2019) was a Norwegian literary historian. Biography She was born in Verdal, Norway. In 1974 she became dr.philos. at the University of Oslo. She was a university lecturer at the University of Oslo ...

(1942 in Verdal – 2019) a Norwegian literary historian and academic *

Nils Nordberg Nils Nordberg (born 26 March 1942, in Verdal) is a Norwegian crime writer, anthology editor and audio play director. He has worked for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation since 1969, and for Radioteatret Radioteatret is a department of the Nor ...

(born 1942 in Verdal) a crime writer, anthology editor and audio play director *

Hans Rotmo Hans Per Rotmo (born 10 March 1948) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, known by most Norwegians as the leading figure of 1970s folk-rock band Vømmøl Spellmannslag, and also known as the writer of hit songs like "Fire fine lænestola" and ...

(born 1948), musician, published the first album sung in a Norwegian dialect

Børre Haugstad Børre is a Norwegian given name, and may refer to: *Børre Dalhaug (born 1974), Norwegian musician and arranger *Børre Falkum-Hansen (1919–2006), Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist *Egil Børre Johnsen (born 1936), Norwegian writer *Børre ...

. 2 November 2020. "''Du'' kunne nominert Rotmo!". Klassekampen. P. 20. "forfatter av boken Vinylens historie 2 - Norge 1970-1990" *

(born 1953) a Norwegian politician, Mayor of Verdal since 2005 *

Rune Rebellion Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian rock band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines glam rock, punk rock, and hard rock into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style. History Early years ( ...

(born 1965 in Verdal) stage name of ''Rune Grønn'', a guitarist *

Ingrid Storholmen Ingrid Storholmen (born 22 May 1976 in Verdal, Norway) is a Norwegian poet, novelist and literary critic. Life and work Storholmen made her literary debut in 2001 with the poetry collection ''Krypskyttarloven''. Among her other collections are '' ...

(born 1976 in Verdal) a Norwegian poet, novelist and literary critic *

Gjermund Larsen Gjermund Larsen (born 29 July 1981 in Verdal, Norway) is a Norwegian traditional folk musician (violin) and composer, known from several bands and recordings. Career Larsen is a trained musician from the Ole Bull Academy at Voss, and the tradit ...

(born 1981 in Verdal) a traditional folk musician (violin) and composer

Sport

Pål Benum Pål Sverre Benum (3 August 1935 – 23 September 2021) was a Norwegian long-distance runner. He specialized in the longest track distances, 5000 and 10,000 metres, eventually competing at the 1964 Olympic Games. He also competed in cross-coun ...

(born 1935 in Verdal) an orthopediatrician and former long-distance runner, competed at 1964 Olympic Games *

Trond Viggo Toresen Trond Viggo Toresen (born 22 February 1978) is a Norwegian football midfielder who currently plays for Verdal. He joined the team from Levanger in 2011. Before he went back to his home towns of Verdal and Levanger he played in Norwegian Tippeli ...

(born 1978 in Verdal) a footballer with over 250 club caps *

Even Barli Even Barli (born 24 July 1991) is a former Norwegian footballer. Career Barli was reserve goalkeeper in Rosenborg from 2009 to 2011, but did not play a single game there, so in 2012 he transferred to Ranheim. Barli made his debut for Ranheim i ...

(born 1991 in Verdal) a Norwegian goalkeeper for Ranheim with 234 caps. * Jonas Svensson (born 1993 in Verdal) a footballer with over 270 club caps and 18 for Norway

References

External links

*
Municipal fact sheet
from

Statistics Norway Statistics Norway ( no, Statistisk sentralbyrå, abbreviated to ''SSB'') is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876. Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every yea ...

Stiklestad National Culture Centre Official WebsiteBattle of Stiklestad
{{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Municipalities of Trøndelag 1838 establishments in Norway