About
Community Connections,
Exchange,
Events,
Travel
The Seattle-Bergen relationship has featured many outstanding cultural and educational exchanges. In 1970, Sister Cities International honored the association with an award for best overall program. Bergen's Nordnes Park has a totem pole from Seattle and the Seattle community of Ballard has a mini-park dedicated by King Olav of Norway. The Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association's other projects include cultural exchanges, hosting of visitors, tours to Scandinavia, social and political forums, and film screenings.
Bergen is Norway's second largest city with a population of about 272,000 and is a cosmopolitan center of trade, finance, shipping, oil production, fishing, research, and education. The city is famous for the Bergen International Festival of music and arts and has a major university and several internationally recognized research institutions. Bergen, a city of seven mountains and gateway to the fjords and Europe, shares many ties with Seattle, a city of seven hills and gateway to Alaska and Asia.
Site image: "Bryggen Dusk" by Jana Peterson / private collection
Vågespel Podcast & Blog
Online through 2025
vaagespel.no
Vågespel is new bilingual podcast and blog that tells the story of the brave Norwegian women who crossed the Atlantic to find a new live in North America. Read more on our blog and follow their exciting adventure at vaagespel.no.
Celebrating 50 Years of Bergen Place
October 19 , 2025
On Sunday, October 19, it will be 50 years since Bergen Place park in Ballard was dedicated by King Olav V, and we are marking this milestone with the Friends of Bergen Place and our community.
More details coming soon!
Crossings Commemoration
Dinner & Program
Leif Erikson Lodge
October 9 , 2025
On Thursday, October 9, the SBSCA, Sons of Norway Leif Erikson Lodge, and the Norwegian Commercial Club will celebrate 200 years of Norwegian immigration to North America. Join us for an evening to remember with a full-course meal, live entertainment, and a special program about the reenacted voyage of the sloop Restauration.
(Image courtesy of restauration.no)
One Ocean Week Seattle
October 20–27, 2025
The most beautiful tall ship in the world, Bergen's Statsraad Lehmkuhl, is coming to Seattle for One Ocean Week. Organized by Washington Maritime Blue, join us for a week of education and entertainment.
(Photo: Christian Houge / VisitNorway)
More details coming soon!
Get involved
Support the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association
Membership levels start at $15 (individual) or $25 (family) annually.
Student memberships are available for $10 annually.
Sign up online or mail us a check today!
Sponsorship: Contact us at info@seattle-bergen.org about making a tax-deductible donation.
The Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 91-1085798.