Bekkelaget graveyard

Bekkelaget graveyard (Norwegian: Bekkelaget urnelund) is an urn cemetery in the Nordstrand district of Oslo. It sits on a wooded ridge between Ekebergsletta and Holtet, and it is a place of quiet rather than a conventional sight. It suits travellers who enjoy calm green corners of the Norwegian capital and are curious about how Norwegians design spaces for remembrance.

What is Bekkelaget urnelund?

It is a cemetery reserved for urn burials only. Bekkelaget is one of just two municipal cemeteries in Oslo with no coffin graves (the other is Ris), while most of the city's cemeteries offer both coffin and urn plots. According to the city's information, each urn grave has room for six urns.

How did it develop?

The cemetery was opened in 1937 and enlarged several times: in 1963, 1967 and 1975. It began with a terraced layout, and later sections were built up with added soil, which is why the site is often described as an urnelund, or "urn grove". No new plots were created from 2013, but new urn graves became available again from 1 January 2021.

What does it look like?

The grounds are wooded and gently shaped. Some graves stand in neat rows, while others are placed freely among the trees. The result feels closer to a park than to a classic necropolis with broad avenues.

An anonymous memorial grove was created here in 1993, and a named memorial grove followed in 2012. The names of those interred appear on plaques fixed to several pillars. This kind of arrangement is increasingly common in Norway, as it allows a person to be remembered without an individual gravestone.

Who is buried here?

Those laid to rest include police officer Gunnar Eilifsen, author Sigurd Evensmo, advertising pioneer Robert Millar and organist Arild Sandvold. The site is known less for monuments than for the local history of the district.

Is it worth a visit?

If you are near Ekebergparken or Nordstrand, it makes a short, peaceful walk. Remember that this is a working cemetery: keep quiet, avoid photographing people visiting graves and stay on the paths.

Frequently asked questions

Can coffin burials take place at Bekkelaget? No. The cemetery is for urns only.

When was it founded? In 1937, and it was extended in 1963, 1967 and 1975.

Where is it? In Nordstrand, on a ridge between Ekebergsletta and Holtet in south-eastern Oslo.

Are there memorial groves? Yes: an anonymous one from 1993 and a named one from 2012.

Is it a tourist attraction? It is more a quiet local place of remembrance than a must-see stop. Visit with the same respect you would show at any cemetery.

Can I walk around? Yes, the cemetery is open to visitors, but normal cemetery etiquette applies.