- David Hicks
Thanks to my network on InterNations, I already had some contact persons to ask for support on coming to Oslo.
Living in Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a city of around 85,000 and can be found in the extreme south of Norway. It is the capital city of Vest-Agder county and is the fifth largest urban area in the country. The city was founded by Norway’s King Christian in 1641 and went on to become an important shipbuilding port and religious center. The Kristiansand Domkirke, or cathedral, was rebuilt in 1885 after fires destroyed it in the late 19th century. The city is a major cultural center of Norway, with the local orchestra performing at the recently constructed Kilden Performing Arts Centre and the city also housing the second largest art museum in Norway. The zoo, meanwhile, is the country’s largest and Kristiansand attracts many tourists with numerous important festivals every year. The city is known as “The Coolest Riviera,” perhaps acknowledging its hip status among younger Norwegians. It is a compact city, but as you can already see from our small enumeration, expats living in Kristiansand will have plenty to do and see. And InterNations is a great way to keep abreast of developments and share recommendations with other expariates in Kristiansand.
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Moving to Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a busy communications hub in Northern Europe, connected to the continent by sea and air. There are ferries to Denmark and good road connections on European route E39 to Oslo and west to Stavanger. The central railway station also connects Kristiansand to many major Norwegian cities. And the local airport, Kjevik, has many national flights and even some international connections, so expatriates moving to Kristiansand can try and see if this is a valuable option for them. The area has good schools and the University of Agder is based in the city. The climate is unusually warm for Norway, with sunny summers and only light snow in December and January. The discussion groups and forums of InterNations are an excellent resource for the new expat in Kristiansand. Here, they can connect with other global minds and gain insider knowledge about the city from those who will know best: locals and other expatriates in Kristiansand.
Working in Kristiansand
The economy of Kristiansand has long been based on shipbuilding and today the city still has a major industry supporting Norway’s North Sea oil and gas sector. There is an important local brewery and the city is also known for its production of ice cream. The manufacture of silicon products for solar panels and nickel production are also major local employers. Tourism and research round out the local economy and the city also has a large retail sector with the biggest shopping mall in Northern Europe. This diversity attracts many expatriates to Kristiansand and InterNations is the perfect place to interact with these internationally focused individuals and make new connections. The in-house Expat Magazine is also a good source of information on various expatriation related topics and a recommended read for any expatriate working in Kristiansand or any other foreign city for that matter.