Lysebu
The Fund for Danish-Norwegian
Cooperation
Lysebu’s history is founded on values such as generosity, gratitude, and care. These values are ingrained in its walls and inspire us every single day.
Lysebu's History
During World War II, the Danish people raised significant funds to send food to Norway. Thousands of lunch packages were distributed, and schoolchildren across the country were served ‘Danskesuppa’ (Danish Soup). Norgeshjelpen (Norwegian Aid) sent a total of 22 tons of food daily from Denmark to Norway during the war. In 1945, 12 million kroner remained from the Danish collection. This money formed the foundation for the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation. As a thank you for the wartime assistance, Norway gifted Lysebu to the Danes, and the Fund was entrusted with managing this gift to foster cultural exchange across borders. Lysebu’s values are rooted in this history: Generosity, gratitude, and thoughtfulness.
Attorney Krag had a plot separated from Soria Moria and commissioned the construction of Lysebu in 1916. He was part of the Lysaker Circle, a group of friends including Nansen, as was the architect Magnus Poulsson. Poulsson was tasked with designing a house with an ambiance reflecting Norwegian tradition, harking back to the manor houses of civil servants in Eastern Norway or the royal estates of fairy tales. A vision we can see today he successfully realized.
The Fund
Lysebu is owned by the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation. The Fund’s purpose is to work towards increased understanding and cooperation between Denmark and Norway. We achieve this purpose by, among other things, providing support for stays for individuals and groups at Schæffergården near Copenhagen and Lysebu in Oslo. Schæffergården and Lysebu are owned by the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation, and all operating revenues from the two hotels are fully dedicated to realizing the Fund’s objectives. This means, for example, that the Fund annually supports approximately 6,000 scholarship nights for students, teachers, researchers, artists, and others who apply for stays to find a conducive environment for work, exchange, or to learn about the neighboring country. In addition, the Fund also offers cultural offerings in the form of exhibitions, concerts, author talks, plays, and conferences on various topics. Read more about the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation.
Sustainability
Lysebu has been a proud Eco-Lighthouse since 2012 and continuously works towards more environmentally friendly operations and a positive work environment. Lysebu was the first hotel in Oslo (and the second in Norway) to offer Green Conferences. It’s about managing resources responsibly and putting environmental responsibility into practice. We consider sustainability in all aspects of our operations, at every level. We particularly focus on sustainability in our eminent kitchen. We believe in the “farm-to-table” philosophy, and our scenic property provides the perfect setting for this approach. We constantly aim to develop our food concept – not just because it’s trendy, but because we believe it will better equip us in the competition for today’s guests. We have now established a greenhouse with a large kitchen garden, and we compost all food waste and leftovers to produce fertile soil in which we grow herbs and vegetables.
The Transparency Act
From July 1, 2022, anyone can request information from companies covered by the Transparency Act regarding how they address consequences related to fundamental human rights and decent working conditions.
Lysebu Hotel, which operates a hotel, restaurant, and conference center, takes this matter seriously.
We are committed to respecting human rights and ensuring decent working conditions. Our board has implemented a transparency policy that provides us with the necessary guidelines for this work.
To ensure compliance, we have conducted a thorough due diligence assessment covering both internal and external conditions, to identify and correct any deviations.
Each year, and no later than June 30, we will publish a report on our website documenting our measures and progress in this area.
If you have questions about how we address fundamental human rights and decent working conditions, please contact:
Pernille Christensen – pernille.christensen@lysebu.no