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]] [[Category:Asker| ]] [[da:Asker]] [[de:Asker]] [[fo:Asker kommuna]] [[bpy:আসকের]] [[id:Asker, Norwegia]] [[it:Asker]] [[nl:Asker]] [[no:Asker]] [[nn:Asker]] [[nds:Kommun Asker]] [[pl:Asker]] [[pt:Asker]] [[ro:Asker]] [[sl:Asker]] [[fi:Asker]] [[sv:Asker kommun]] [[vi:Asker]] [[vo:Asker]]