Nitedals Krudtværk

Nitedals Krudtværk was a gunpowder factory built across a narrow valley with nearly 200 structures arranged for different stages of production. The complex featured separate workshops for processing explosive materials, storage buildings, and residential quarters for the people who worked there.

Engineer Georg Frølich founded the factory in 1882 and purchased 435 acres of land from two local farms to begin production. It manufactured black powder for roughly 96 years before operations ceased in 1978.

The factory shaped the local community through its workforce of 16 to 50 workers, contributing to industrial development in the Nittedal region.

The site spreads across a narrow valley with many buildings scattered throughout, so plan to spend time walking between them. Wear comfortable shoes since the terrain involves hills and uneven paths between the structures.

Seventeen workers died in accidents during its operation, with the worst incident in May 1919 killing seven people in a single explosion. This toll reflects the extreme risks workers faced handling explosive materials daily.