The Venue
The DSpace User Group Meeting, "Dugnad" among the fjords, will be held in Bergen, a town situated on the western coast of Norway and surrounded by hills and fjords. Although it is situated at a high latitude and close to the North Sea, the climate is mild. Bergen has a reputation to be a rainy town, but April is statistically warm and dry. However, it may be wise to bring with you a light coat for the evenings and an umbrella as a precaution. Bergen is famous for its many trees and bushes blooming in springtime, and the rhododendron is given the honour to be the official favourite flower of the town. In addition to being a charming town with many cultural monuments, tourists use the surroundings of Bergen with its many mountains, fjords, waterfalls and glaciers.
The town was founded in 1070 and was the Capital of Norway for several centuries. During the Middle Ages Bergen was the main trade centre in Norway, making a connecting link between Northern Europe (Hanseatic cities) and the rich resources of fish in Western and Northern parts of Norway. In the year 2000 Bergen was one of eight culture cities within the European community.