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In 2000, Oslo was preparing for its millennium celebrations. During renovations of the City Hall (Rådhuset), it was discovered that one of the 49 bells was out of tune. The bell was promptly removed, and the original was placed in storage.
Twenty years later, the contemporary artist A K Dolven brought the bell back into public view. The 1.4 ton bell was strung on a 30 m cable at Honnørbrygga in front of Rådhuset, facing its original location. Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin wrote a song to mark the occasion; in it, the bells at Rådhuset gradually start communicating with the out-of-tune bell until they once again play together.
The location is highly symbolic, being the exact spot where King Haakon 7 returned to Norway after several years of exile during WWII. Today, anyone can play the bell by stepping on a guitar pedal which is mounted on the floor next to one of the pillars. Although the bell is out of tune, when played alone it has a rather beautiful sound which can be heard across the city.
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Know Before You Go
Walk down onto Honnørbrygga, the pier right behind the bell. Look down to your right and you will see a miniature statue. The statue, of a "bearded mermaid", actually a norse sea-creature, was mounted sometime during the 2000s
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Published
May 18, 2026
