Heimdal & Kattem - Where history meets modern life
Heimdal from above. Photo: Carl-Erik Eriksson
Heimdal isn’t just a district in Trondheim; it’s where history meets modern life, tucked into the scenic corners of Trøndelag County. Right next to Heimdal, is Kattem, an area which has become a hallmark of stand out architecture and thoughtful urban planning.
Ride the bus, take the train or bike
AtBs metro bus will take you all the way from Trondheim city centre to Heimdal and Kattem. Bus number 1 and 2 are the main buses you can take. You can also get to Heimdal station by train. There’s options to bike and walk as well.
Trains departing and arriving at Heimdal train station. Photo: Carl-Erik Eriksson
A place for scenic hikes
Kattem and Heimdal are surrounded by nature.
If you want to walk all the way to the forest from the centre of Heimdal, you may have to walk a few kilometers before reaching a trail. Still, there are green lungs and small neighborhood forests all around. Kattem on the other hand is located with the Skjetlein forest acting as its backyard. From there you can reach Ringvål, or even Smistad and Granåsen if you’re up for it.
If you’re in need of a swim or just want to picnic by a body of water, it only takes one hour to walk from Åsheim secondary school to the popular lake Hestsjøen in Leinstrandsmarka. In winter it’s open for ice-skating.
Hestsjøen is also an excellent place to go trout fishing (just remember to buy your fishing permit first).
If you want to go for a nice Sunday walk, or an evening run, the Skjetlein Round (Skjetleinrunden) is the perfect option. Starting from Heimdal, going through Kattem, and passing Skjetlein, the trail takes you to Leinstrand and then back around towards Heimdal. While doing the round you will have great views of farmland and the ocean.
By using resources like UT you can locate trails and hikes in your neighbourhood.
Jernbanebyen park. Photo: Glen Musk
A bustling cultural scene
Heimdal library is located in Heimdal centrum. They have everything you need and more, like a 3D printer for example. The library also offers special opening hours if you upgrade your library card, meaning that you can access the library outside of opening hours, from 07 AM to 11 PM every day of the year.
There are several sports teams to join in the area, especially for youth. Both Heimdal and Kattem have their own sports teams. Heimdal sports teams have options in soccer, handball, mixed sports for the younger children and cross country skiing. Kattems sports team focuses on soccer and swimming.
If you’re hungry in Heimdal, there are a few options in restaurants. You can find everything from pizza and hamburgers to sushi and Indian food here.
Kattem frivillighetssentral (voluntary central) hosts different events.
Heimdal Treffsted
Trondheim county has three different meeting places to aid with mental health in Trondheim. Heimdal Treffsted is located in Heimdalsveien 3 and is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. They offer a place to sit for an informal chat, have tea or coffee, read the newspaper, do activities and more.
Artwork Omsorg, or "Compassion" by artist Steiner Garberg, 1998. Photo: Jørn Adde.
Take me to church!
At Heimdal church you can stop by for a drop-in wedding on certain dates!
A piece of local history
In 1859 the first combined residential house and guesthouse was built by Jan Ditlev Blom, who is today considered the founder of Heimdal. The same year, the road between Klett and Trondheim was completed. The railway finished in 1864. Blom also opened the first ever shop in Heimdal, located where the gas station Esso Heimdal is today. The beginning of commerce in the area was the extraction of peat for fuel. This developed into a major industry.
Back in the day Heimdal was the local hub for governance in Leinstrand and Tiller, and its roots as a central meeting place still shine through today. Heimdal experienced enormous growth after establishing the Heimdal train station and joining the “Dovrebanen” network. Adresseavisen,, the largest newspaper in Trondheim, also one of Norway oldests used to have Heimdal as its headquarters.
And here’s a mythological twist: Heimdal gets its name from Heimdall, the Norse god who stood guard at the rainbow bridge Bifrǫst. Legend has it, he blew the mighty Gjallarhorn to signal the end of the world—Ragnarok. Quite the legendary namesake for a district.
Fun fact: Heimdal almost got its own airport. The planning to build started in 1935, but stopped in 1940.
Picture of Heimdallr, the norse God, blowing the "Gjallarhorn".
The history of development and rehabilitation at Uståsen and Kattem
Kattem is built on a bog, and therefore have their streets named after the area's rich wildlife. Kattem started developing into a suburb in the 1970s.
Between 1974 and 1980, TOBB built around 1,200 apartments here, organized into six housing cooperatives spread over 360 acres. The master plan? A mix of housing styles and sizes, thoughtfully grouped along pedestrian streets and shared outdoor spaces.
The development really kicked off with the Ustmyra Housing Cooperative in 2004. Fun fact: Ustmyra earned an honorable mention for Trondheim’s Energy Saving Award in 2009.
Rehabilitating the area has been a careful process involving heritage experts, the municipality, and, most importantly, the residents themselves. It’s a perfect example of how collaboration and design can create a thriving community.
Kattem seen from above. Photo: Carl-Erik Eriksson
Schools and kindergartens
Private kindergarten run by the Pentecostal church at Kattem.
Located in Idrettsveien, Heimdal.
Private kindergartens.
Private kindergarten located in Heimdal. Their focus areas are the outdoors and sports.
Centrally located at Lund Østre with the forest being their closest neighbour.
Skyttervegen kindergarten is located in Skyttervegen, with “Bymarka” just next door.
Private kindergarten located in Kvenlidveien.
Centrally located at Uståsen. For children aged one to six.
The kindergarten has three different departments, one in Kattem, Lyngmyra and Skjetlein.
Grades 1-7.
Grades 1-7. Read more:
Åsheim secondary school is centrally located in Heimdal.
Heimdal upper secondary school is located in Blisterhaugvegen. The school offers general studies, some vocational studies, sports studies, and music, dance and theater studies.
Heimdal high-school has an excellent sports program for skiers. Photo: Carl-Erik Eriksson.
Elise Gull Askim
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