Asker
177977
219266485
2008-06-14T11:37:47Z
83.10.76.204
/* External links */
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox_Kommune|
name=Asker|
idnumber=0220|
county=Akershus|
landscape=Viken|
capital=Asker|
governor=Lene Conradi ([[Conservative Party of Norway|H]])|
governor_as_of=2007|
arearank=385|
area=101|
arealand=97|
areapercent=0.03|
population_as_of=2007|
populationrank=11|
population=52,210|
populationpercent=1.11|
populationdensity=538|
populationincrease=15.7|
demonym=Askerbøring|
language=[[Norwegian Bokmål|Bokmål]]|
lat_deg=59| lat_min=50| lat_sec=7| lon_deg=10| lon_min=26| lon_sec=6|
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6633966 |utm_easting=0580439| geo_cat=adm2nd|
coatofarms=Asker komm.png|
map=[[Image:Norwaymap oslo.png]]<!--Replace with County map--> |
munwebpage=www.asker.kommune.no|
}}
'''Asker''' is a [[municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in the [[counties of Norway|county]] of [[Akershus]], [[Norway]] and a [[suburb]] of [[Oslo]].
Asker was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]]).
== Geography ==
Its main parts are Asker, Gullhella, [[Vollen]], [[Vettre]], Blakstad, Borgen, Drengsrud, Vardåsen, Engelsrud, Holmen, [[Høn]], [[Hvalstad]], Billingstad, Nesøya, Nesbru and [[Heggedal]]. Asker is a notably coastal place with many beautiful beaches, but it is also a place of hills and woods. The district is known for many important businesses. It is also known for gardening. The [[Skaugum]] estate, where [[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway|Crown Prince Haakon of Norway]] lives with his family, is situated here. The first [[IKEA]] store outside of [[Sweden]] opened in Asker in 1963 .
== Culture ==
Although Asker is principally a rural municipality, the expansion of Oslo has resulted in its becoming an affluent suburb. Thus numerous celebrities now reside in the area.
Asker is also the home of the [[Frisk Asker Tigers]], who won the Norwegian Hockey championship in 1975, 1979 and 2002. [[Asker Skiklubb]] is the largest sports club in Norway. It has a long history dating back to 1889. Many of Asker's famous people have been successful individuals associated with the sports club.
Asker, more notably Blakstad, was a stronghold for the [[Bagler]]s, who contended with the [[Birkebeiner]]s during a [[civil war]] during the [[Viking]] period.
The city is the home of [[Asker svømmeklubb]]. Asker women's football club has been home to many international players including four who played in the 2007 World Cup in China.
== The name ==
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Asker, since the first church was built here. The name ([[North Germanic languages|Norse]] ''Askar'') is the plural form of ''ask'' '[[ashtree]]'.
==The Maud==
In 1916 (or 1917) the [[Maud (ship)|Maud]], which had been built in local shipyards, was launched into [[Oslofjord]]. The ship which had been constructed and built especially for [[Roald Amundsen]] and was to sail through the [[Northern Sea Route|Northeast Passage]]. After being seized by creditors in [[Seattle, Washington]], [[United States]] she was sold to the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] as a supply vessel. After being renamed the ''Baymaud'' she sailed to [[Cambridge Bay, Nunavut|Cambridge Bay]], [[Nunavut]], [[Canada]] where, in 1930, she sprung a leak and sank. In 1990 the ship was sold by the Hudson's Bay Company to the town with the expectation that she would be returned to Asker. Although a Cultural Properties Export permit was issued, the price tag to repair and move the ship was 230 million [[Norwegian krone|kroner]] ($43,200,000) and the permit expired.<ref>[http://explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa082799.htm Underwater Treasure of Cambridge Bay]</ref><ref>Nunavut News/North Monday [[August 20]], [[2007]] "Saving the Maud"]</ref><ref>[http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/research/archrep/central.htm Cambridge Bay at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre]</ref>
== Coat-of-arms ==
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1975). It shows three [[ashtree]]s.
== Politics ==
Asker is politically dominated by the conservatives, and the mayor is Lene Conradi from Høyre (Conservatives)
== Famous residents ==
* [[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway]]
* [[Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway]]
* [[Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway]]
* [[Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway]]
* [[Einar Gerhardsen]], prime minister in three periods, from 1945 to 1951, from 1955 to 1963 and from 1963 to 1965.
* [[Harriet Backer]] (1845-1932), painter
* [[Dina Aschehoug]] (1861-1956), painter
* [[Tryggve Andersen]] (1866-1920), writer
* [[Nini Roll Anker]] (1873-1942), writer
* [[Johan Bojer]] (1872-1959), writer
* [[Arne Garborg]] (1851-1924), poet, lived there for a period
* [[Dyre Vaa]] (1903-1980), sculptor
* [[Alf Prøysen]] (1914-1970), writer/musician, lived there for a period
* [[Halvard Hanevold]], [[Olympic Gold]] in [[Biathlon]]
* [[Anders Jacobsen (footballer)|Anders Jacobsen]] - professional [[Football (soccer)|footballer]]
* [[Pål Arne Fagernes]] (1974-2003), Javelin thrower and boxer
* [[Valgerd Svarstad Haugland]] politician, [[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|Christian Democratic Party]]
* [[Vigdis Hjorth]], Author
* [[Hallvard Flatland]], TV-host
* [[Anders Lange]], politician (Founder of [[FrP]], the Progress Party)
* [[Lauritz Askvold]], painter
* [[Erik Bye]] (1926-2004), journalist, singer, TV personality
* [[Morten Harket]], singer in [[a-ha]].
* [[Wencke Myhre]], singer
* [[Arne Bendiksen]], singer and songwriter
* [[Arild Nyquist]](1938-2004), poet, painter, singer and songwriter
== Twinnings ==
{|
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Iceland}} - [[Garðabær]], [[Iceland]]
* {{flagicon|Finland}} - [[Jakobstad]], [[Finland]]
* {{flagicon|Sweden}} - [[Eslöv]], [[Sweden]]
* {{flagicon|Denmark}} - [[Birkerød]], [[Denmark]]
* {{flagicon|Faroe Islands}} - [[Tórshavn]], [[Faroe Islands]]
|}
==References==
<references />
== External links ==
* [http://www.asker.kommune.no/ Asker municipality's official website]
** [http://www.asker.kommune.no/museet/ Asker Museum]
* [http://www.asker.folkebibl.no/om_biblio/engelsk.htm Asker public library]
* [http://www.asker-skiklubb.no/ Asker skiklubb]
* [http://www.frisktigers.no/ Frisk Asker Tigers]
* [http://www.budstikka.no/ Budstikka] (local newspaper for Asker and Bærum)
* [http://www.asker.vgs.no/ Asker videregående skole] (School for Upper Secondary Education)
* [http://www.fuakershus.no/velkommen.asp?open=1&avd=74 The Open University in Asker (Folkeuniversitetet)]
* [http://www.asker.kirken.no/ Church of Asker]
* [http://www.askersvom.no/ Asker Svømmeklubb]
{{Akershus}}
[[Category:Municipalities of Akershus]]
[[Category:Settlements in Akershus]]
[[Category:Villages in Norway]]
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