Issue 21st February 2023 Arendal and Risør 300th Anniversaries

Arendal has often been referred to as the "Venice of the Nordics". This is because the town was originally built on seven islands. Over time, the straits between the islands were made into canals, like in Venice. The tourist brochures call it "The city of canals" referring to the many navigable waterways for leisure boats in both the sea and fresh waters.

Whether the town should restore one or more of the filled-in canals is a topic of constant debate. Kanalplassen market square is a public meeting space in Arendal, and Canal Street is the name of the town's popular jazz and blues festival.

The name Risør probably comes from the fact that the islands outside the town were once covered in thick brush and undergrowth. Risør was granted market status on 7 May 1723, but the town's history goes back at least another 150 years.

Its main function in the 16th century was as a shipping port for timber from the surrounding forests, and by the early 17th century the coastal town of Risør had grown into a commercial centre. Risør was merged with Søndeled in 1964 and its population was thereby doubled. Today, the municipality has almost 7,000 inhabitants and it borders Kragerø, Gjerstad and Tvedestrand.