Art & Culture

Town of Artists 

Drøbak has throughout the ages charmed artists, bohemians and writers, including Hans Gude, Oda and Christian Krogh and Knut Hamsun. As an arts center, Drøbak has several galleries. Local artist Reidar Finsrud has two galleries outside the city center, at Bilitt and at Torkilstranda.

He has also made the bronze sculpture of the three “Mermaids in Drøbak” in Drøbak marina.

The newspaper cartoonists’ house shows drawings with meaning, expression-based art and is a tribute to the newspaper cartoonist Fredrik Stabel. 

Drøbak kunstforening (Art Association) curates exhibitions in the historic bathing building at Badeparken, with a stunning fjord view. The Oslo Fjord Art Center, Creative Gallery & Framework Workshop and Gallery Havstad are all worth a visit.

May-Britt Kjeserud is another artist who has a gallery in the center, while Galleri Vera is on the way to Torkilstranda. In the center of Drøbak, the former Munich-based goldsmith Walter Hensel also has his own workshop called Gullsmed Atelieret, together with his Norwegian partner Marit Falch. 
 

Festivals and live music 

Drøbak is also a vibrant music destination. In the summer there are three major festivals: Drøbakfestivalen, Drøbak Havnefestival and Gitarer ved fjorden. At Oscarsborg, the famous Oscarsborg Opera is a highlight every August. 

There is also often live music, either at Café Sjøstjernen, in the charming backyard of Café Drøbak, outside Bytinget, at Miramar or at Handelshuset Gastrobar. Smia, cultural center also offers regular concerts, theater and other events. Follo museum also has cultural events such as a walking theater, a museum mystery experience, and theme days for children. 

Summer concerts 

If you visit Drøbak on a Saturday morning in the summer, you can experience world-class classical concerts in the historic Drøbak church. It is hand-picked, top class musicians who visit this summer’s concert series with a varied program filled with classical gems, contemporary music and jazz. 

Library and Cinema 

Do you have a book worm in the family? Take a trip to the light blue, historic wooden library in Drøbak square where they offer books for all ages. Drøbak boat harbor houses one of 100 remaining telephone kiosks in Norway, which today is a protected cultural monument and filled with free used books. 

Cinema and popcorn? Traditional Drøbak cinema in the city center has shown films since 1933 and has a varied cinema program, all year round.