Every day of the year is Christmas
No one really knows when this tradition began, but Drobak is Norway's only year-round Christmas town, and the heart of the town, a must-see for visitors, is Tregaarden's Julehus (Christmas House).
Opened in 1988 in a building that dates back to the late 19th century, Tregaarden’s Julehus is a haven for children (and nostalgic adults) – a place where every day is Christmas, even in the middle of summer. At Julehus, you can not only buy decorations and toys to your heart’s content, but also all sorts of things, such as scented candles, tablecloths, pretty napkins, pianos, and more.
In addition, Tregaarden's Julehus also has its own post office system so you can send postcards with unique and funny stamps to relatives and friends.
Look out, it's Santa Claus!
It's no exaggeration to say that there are actually signs in Drobak “warning” you to watch out for Santa Claus and that is completely legal in Norway (only in Drobak of course).
On the streets of Drobak town, you will often see these warning signs.
And if you suspect that this is a gimmick by the town to emphasize the village’s connection to Santa Claus, you’d be right. However, it does have a point, as you can actually spot Santa Claus (or rather, his cousin) on the streets or at the Tourist Information Office by the main harbour. He visits in November and stays until the end of December to collect all the letters addressed to Santa Claus. The walls of the office are covered with Christmas cards and letters from children all over the world, so much so that you can’t see anything else. But Santa Claus is also very elusive, and he occasionally drops by, so you might just spot him and take a selfie with him.
Drobak is not just about Christmas
Even if celebrating Christmas 365 days a year doesn't excite you, Drobak has plenty to offer, including an aquarium (located in the same building as the Tourist Information Office), art galleries, a wooden church built in 1776, and the most special of all, Oscarsborg Fortress.
The fortress was built in 1853 and named after King Oscar I. It played an important role in sinking a heavy Nazi warship during World War II. To get to this architectural work, you need to take a ferry but it won't take too long, it only takes about 10 minutes to get there and you can enjoy the view, isn't it convenient?
