Stein skole

Stein skole is a former primary school in the municipality of Nes, in the Romerike region of Akershus, Norway. Today it is a museum nicknamed "Eventyrskolen", the "Fairytale School". The building stands by the E16 road, west of the village of Vormsund, and forms part of Nes samlinger (Nes Collections), run by Museene i Akershus (MiA).

What is Stein skole?

The school was in regular use from 1912 to 1972, although one source gives 1971/72 as the final school year. An ordinary village schoolhouse became something special because of what happened inside it in the 1930s, when well-known Norwegian artists decorated its walls and interiors.

Who created the decorations?

The artists named include Reidar Aulie, Dagfinn Werenskiold, Birgit Abrahamsen and Henrik Sørensen. The project was driven by the teacher Erling Elverhøy and the writer Ingeborg Refling Hagen. According to tourism listings, the interiors still look fresh and well preserved, so visitors can see them much as pupils did in past decades.

What else is there to see?

Next door stands an older schoolhouse dating from 1852. It was moved about 500 metres in the 1970s and protected by Nes municipality in 1978. On a single site you can therefore compare two eras of Norwegian rural education: a nineteenth-century classroom and an early twentieth-century school with artist-made interiors.

Tourism information also mentions a café in the former barn and a shop. Guided tours are offered in the summer season.

How to plan your visit

• Getting there: the school lies by the E16 in Nes municipality, in Romerike near Vormsund. A car is the most convenient way to arrive.
• Opening times: these vary by season. One listing says the school is open only in summer, so check current details with MiA (mia.no/nes) before you travel.
• Who it suits: lovers of twentieth-century Norwegian art, the history of education, and quiet, unusual museums away from the main tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the Fairytale School? The nickname "Eventyrskolen" refers to the remarkable interior decoration that sets it apart from ordinary village schools.

When did it operate as a school? From 1912 to 1972.

Who runs the site? Nes samlinger, part of Museene i Akershus (MiA).

Is there a café? Yes, according to tourism listings it is in the former barn. Days and hours change, so check before visiting.

How far is it from Oslo? Nes is in Romerike, east of Oslo, but travel time depends on the route and road conditions, so check it in your navigation app.