Oslo's Eastern Cemetery

Østre gravlund (Eastern Cemetery) in Oslo is one of the largest burial grounds in the Norwegian capital, located in the city's eastern districts around Helsfyr. Today it covers roughly 140 decares, or 14 hectares, and its story goes back to the late nineteenth century. It is a quiet place that works as an active cemetery, a green space and a record of the city's growth.

How did the cemetery come about?

The land was once farmland belonging to the Helsfyr gård estate. The municipality of Kristiania, as Oslo was then called, bought the farm in 1892. Three years later, in 1895, the cemetery was consecrated. At the start it covered only about 21 decares. Over the following decades, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, it was enlarged several times until it reached its present size.

What can you see here?

A walk along the paths reveals several features tied to the cemetery's development:

• The bell tower – the original chapel from 1895 was demolished, but its bell tower still stands as a trace of the oldest part of the grounds.
• The chapel complex – the current buildings, with two chapels, date from 1961. They also housed a crematorium, which closed in 2009; its work was taken over by the Alfaset crematorium.
• The urn garden – laid out in 1936 for urn burials.
• Greenery and layout – mature trees and orderly burial sections make the grounds a calm place to stroll.

The Jewish cemetery at Helsfyr

In 1912, about 10.5 decares in the south-eastern part of the area were transferred to the Jewish community. This became Helsfyr gravlund, in use since 1917. Graves in this section are oriented toward Jerusalem. The two cemeteries lie side by side, so visitors often experience them as one whole, even though they are formally separate.

Visiting respectfully

Østre gravlund is an active cemetery, so the usual etiquette applies: keep quiet, avoid playing music, be careful when photographing mourners, and stay on the paths rather than stepping on graves. Daytime visits in good weather are best. Late spring and summer show the greenery at its finest, though autumn gives the grounds a particularly atmospheric feel.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Østre gravlund? In eastern Oslo, in the Helsfyr area. Coordinates: 59.9148, 10.8068.

When was the cemetery founded? The municipality purchased the land in 1892, and the cemetery was consecrated in 1895.

Is there still a crematorium on site? No. The crematorium beside the chapels closed in 2009 and moved to Alfaset.

Is there a Jewish section? Yes. The neighbouring Helsfyr gravlund was set aside in 1912 and has been in use since 1917.

Is it a tourist attraction? Primarily it is a working burial ground, but its history, chapel architecture and greenery make it a point of interest for people curious about Oslo's past.