The case in summary: • Norway’s sauna association criticizes the proceedings in the municipalities around sauna applications, and describe the process as “bingo”.• The municipalities are facing challenges linked to the location of the saunas, especially in the beach zone, and Larvik municipality has chosen to grant an interim permit for the construction of saunas.• Norway’s sauna association has brought in legal help to prepare a guide for the municipalities, to help them navigate the regulations.• State Secretary Sigrun Prestbakmo (Sp) expresses support for the sauna trend, but underlines that the municipalities have a responsibility to ensure that establishment takes place in accordance with existing regulations. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Saunas have long traditions in Norway, but have had a renaissance in recent years. Today there are around 400 publicly accessible saunas in Norway, according to Norway’s sauna association. In Åsgårdstrand, a sauna is in frequent use. Aasgaardstrand Kvindelige Badeselskab are ready for saunas and morning baths. Photo: Aina Indreiten / news Every day, Sidsel Røed puts on a bathing suit and bathrobe, before she strolls down to the pier for her regular morning ritual. – There are some waves today, but the water is lovely. It’s my second dip, so now it will be good to come up and take a sauna. For more than 30 years, the members of Aasgaardstrand Kvindelige Badeselskab have met for saunas and morning baths. Hege Helm takes a morning bath in Åsgårdstrand Photo: Aina Indreiten / news They do it every day, all year round. Men only have access to the bathhouse twice a month, but now a new sauna is being planned that will be accessible to everyone. Floating saunas The modern Norwegian sauna trend started around eight years ago, says general secretary Stig Arild Pettersen. – There were natural saunas around the country in the past too, but it was when the first saunas appeared in the inner Oslofjord that floating saunas became big. It has since spread to the entire country. Stig Arild Pettersen is general secretary of Norway’s sauna guild. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news The great interest has given the municipalities a challenge. According to Norway’s sauna association, the proceedings vary from municipality to municipality. – The processing of applications for saunas in Norway is simply bingo. We get lots of inquiries from frustrated operators who don’t quite understand why they can’t set up a sauna when someone in the neighboring municipality is encouraged to do so by the municipality, says Pettersen. The municipality has asked for advice. The Planning and Building Act regulates this, and in Larvik municipality they have chosen to grant an interim permit for the construction of saunas. – We have received six applications for the construction of a sauna. Five of them have received an interim approval, while the last one has not been processed yet, says Silje Vestre, subject manager for building matters in Larvik municipality. Silje Vestre, head of building affairs in Larvik municipality Photo: Oleg Nemchenko The challenge is that some of the saunas applied for will be set up in the beach zone. – If you want to keep one of the saunas in the beach zone, you must have a dispensation from the building ban along the sea. And often also the purpose, which is green structure or agricultural land. Then the processes become more demanding, says Vestre. Vestre has asked for advice from the Ministry of Local Government. They are now working on an interpretation of what kind of area is relevant for the establishment of saunas. Do you take a sauna? Yes, it’s refreshing and I love it! 💖 No, it gets way too hot for me! 🔥 I have never tried. 🤷♀️ Show result State Secretary Sigrun Prestbakmo (Sp) is positive about the trend and thinks it can contribute to increased activity and life in local communities. – At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the municipalities have a responsibility to ensure that such establishment takes place in a way that is in accordance with existing regulations. Issued by director Norway’s sauna association believes that the great interest in saunas has come as a surprise to the municipalities. They have chosen to bring in legal help to prepare a legal manager for the municipalities. – The regulations in the Planning and Building Act must be followed, but it seems that some municipalities make it a little more complicated than it is, says the general secretary. The new sauna boom started with floating saunas in Oslo Photo: Aina Indreiten / news In the courtroom, they go over the rules that apply to different types of saunas. – It is positive to have such an initiative from Norway’s sauna association. At the same time, it is important that it is the municipalities, state administrators and the ministry that are responsible for guiding the rules in the Planning and Building Act, says Prestbakmo. The hottest saunas in Norway Photo: Dag Jenssen Soria Moria, Dalen i Telemark Soria Moria is both a sauna and a work of art. The sauna is like a jewel in the Telemark Canal. Pust, Tromsø and Bodø One of the newest contributions to the sauna culture in Norway is Pust in Bodø and in Tromsø. The saunas are located in the middle of the harbor in the two cities and have room for 20 guests with their own changing rooms. Both are inspired by a traditional fish tank for dried fish and have received a lot of international attention. Sauna culture in the Oslofjord Urban sauna culture has taken Oslo by storm. Now the inner harbor can boast of several alternatives to sauna experiences with a refreshing bath in the Oslo Fjord. Heit Sørfjorden Sauna, Hardangerfjord In Sørfjorden in the Hardangerfjord lies Heit. From the sauna on the floating jetty you can enjoy the view over the fjord, the mountains and the glacier. The sauna is wood-fired and has a capacity of a maximum of six people. Gausta floating saunas, Gaustablikk Gausta has two saunas located on Kvitåvatn, with a view of Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in Telemark. The saunas are tied to Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell, near Rjukan. SvalBad, Longyearbyen One of the newest attractions on Svalbard is the floating sauna in Longyearbyen. Both the raft itself and the sauna are mainly built from material from old buildings in Longyearbyen and Svea. Preikestolen Basecamp, Ryfylke What started as a modest, small farm where visitors could spend the night on the way to Preikestolen has become a base camp. There are all types of accommodation and offers for countless activities, all year round. And of course with two floating saunas. Vulkana, Tromsø Vulkana is a former fishing and whaling boat that has been converted into an Arctic spa and experience boat. The boat offers a sauna, hammam, various spa treatments, a bar and a small restaurant. Published 26/08/2024, at 05.55
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Sauna boom creates major disruption for the municipalities – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
