Top 9 reasons why you'll love Trondheim
Photo: Aziz Nasuti
Are you considering a move to the North? Well, you should. Norway has a lot to offer for both your career and your spare time. And if you're interested in science, innovation and technology, there's really no place like Trondheim.
1. Trondheim is Norway's tech capital
If you're an engineer, a scientist, work in IT – or you’re studying to do so in the future – you'll love the Trondheim region and its 800 tech companies. And in the heart of Trondheim, you'll find NTNU. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology established in 1910 with roots back to 1760 .
It has been the birthplace of many society-changing ideas, playing a key role in developing everything from Norway's Hydropower plants, Nobel Prize-winning brain science, to the quiz-app Kahoot.
If your university-strolling days are in the past, Trondheim is also the home of one of Europe's largest research institutes - SINTEF employing researchers from more than 75 different nationalities. Out of these, and other great Trondheim region academic and research institutions, comes a myriad of tech companies.
The Tech Port conference is a yearly conference for technology in Trondheim. Photo: Erlend Dalhaug Daae
2. A great place for inquisitive minds
The combined brain power housed by NTNU and Sintef provides growth, prosperity and exciting job opportunities. The multitude of young bright talent, combined with investors with a keen eye for potential, has made Trondheim fertile ground for startups, as well as larger, international, tech companies.
Due to the size of the city, the tech companies are closely connected. In fact, several clusters, where tech companies share the same office buildings, have appeared over the last couple of years – with cooperation and creativity as important focal points.
3. You'll make a difference
Are you tired of not having as much impact on your professional career as you would want? Fear not! Norway hits high score on the social mobility meter, and it is quite common that all employees – even the freshly graduated – play pivotal roles. From the very beginning.
Most employers cherish – or rather, depends on – new impulses from young people who bear fresh ideas, and from people with different backgrounds and life experiences.
So if you want to take your career to the next level, a job in Trondheim might be the best choice you can possibly make.
Photo: Hyggelaget/The List Archive
4. The Nordic Lifestyle
On your digital travels, you may have come across the Scandinavian term «hygge».
The idea is simple: If your days are peaceful and stress-free, your life will be peaceful and stress-free as well. Part of what this means is that Norwegians are very protective of their spare time. Usually, the work hours here in Norway are from 8 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.
That’s not to say ambition isn’t valued or rewarded – in certain positions you’re certainly free to work longer hours if you wish. Point is: You have the privilege to choose. Flexible work hours are also quite common, and chances are you will have a good say in how your day tends to pan out.
Intrigued by this relaxed way of life? Read more about the Nordic lifestyle here!
5. Fjells, fjords, and the City in between
Have you ever seen pictures of the beautiful Norwegian nature? You probably have, as both natives and tourists are more than happy to share pictures of it in every social (and traditional) media there is. As a result of having had glaciers slowly change the landscape over thousands of years, we now have both picturesque fjords and stunning mountains – often in close proximity to each other.
Trondheim is a city located by the fjord, and surrounded by mountains (or «fjell» as we call them in Norway – you might as well learn it already). You can take a bath in Trondheimsfjorden, and not even an hour later find yourself hiking in the wooded trails and paths of Bymarka (the City's outskirts).
Photo: Tormod Igelø Ellingsen
6. More than just Trondheim
Living in a city can be pricey. It doesn't matter if it is New York, Bangkok, Tokyo or Trondheim; the closer you want to live to the City's heart, the more expensive it will be. So regardless of whether you rent or own your apartment, it will be cheaper to live outside the city.
And here you'll find a friend in Trondheim. Because Trondheim is not really just Trondheim. Surrounding Trondheim there are many municipalities with great bus and train connections, and considerably more affordable property prices. And the best thing: It really isn't far.
From some of the surrounding municipalities, such as Melhus or Malvik, the travel time can be as little as 15 to 20 minutes. So if you compare it to other European cities, with the same diversity in the tech, science and IT sectors, you will probably get a lot more for your money here.
Graphic: Astri Riedl
7. The welfare state
Nordic countries have a high standard of living, which undoubtedly contributes to ease the stress levels in these parts. This rests upon the shoulders of what we call the welfare state. What you pay in taxes, contributes to helping those who need it the most.
One of the greatest things to come out of the welfare state is the health care system. If you get sick or injured, the hospital will treat you for free.
However, as an employee, it is much more likely that you at some point will be rendered unable to work, yet not sick enough to be put in the hospital. If that's the case, the welfare state will make sure you still receive your paycheck.
Of course, the welfare state is not just about sickness and injuries. If you were to expect having a child, you are guaranteed paid leave from work for as much as a whole year. And your child's education will be virtually free - including higher education.
8. The beautiful seasons
The natives of Trondheim, «trønderan», often describe their local weather as «all four seasons within a day». This is, of course, an overstatement, as both summer temperatures and winter weather extremely rarely happens within the span of the same day. However, the weather can often be an experience in itself. And the differences between the seasons are quite remarkable.
You have the winter, where everything is frozen, but simultaneously beautifully draped in snow, with the occasional Northern light dancing across the sky. Followed by the spring, where the snow melts and the melting water re-freezes to make an icy apocalypse every other day – but at the same time gives you the first signs of the summer to come, as the days steadily grow longer.
You have the Norwegian summer, where everything is green and the days last forever, and eventually the fall, where the nature and mountains surrounding the city hosts a colorful last hurrah – before they at last shed their leaves and welcome the winter back around.
To be able to experience this throughout the year, is really quite something.
Photo: Torleif Kvinnesland
9. The amazing food
This has been quite the read, so if you're hungry, we don't blame you. You are, however, in luck. You see, something strange has happened in these last few years. From being a city with an abundance of burger joints (not that there's anything wrong with that), a great many high quality, affordable, restaurants have popped up. Restaurants with both Norwegian and international cuisine on the menu.
«Popped up» is of course a simplification, if not an insult, towards those who have transformed Trondheim into the city of great food that it is today.
The reason Trondheim ended up in this position is partly because of its location. The fjord supplies delicious fish, the fertile land surrounding the city provides fresh vegetables, and the forests and mountains yield a steady supply of fresh game, mushrooms and berries.
What this means for you, is that you will spend quite some time if you attempt to eat your way through all of the excellent restaurants Trondheim has to offer. And thanks to the great interest in delicious Norwegian food, new, excellent restaurants are certainly already in the making.
A wonderful piece of fish from Speilsalen at Britannia Hotel. Photo: McKenna Starck
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