Norwegian Constitution Day 2023 programme

Orkney’s special friendship with Norway will be celebrated this Wednesday (17 May) when the annual Norwegian Constitution Day takes place.

The day will begin at 10:30 with a Remembrance service at the Norwegian war graves in St Olaf's Cemetery. Transport will be provided for official guests from Kirkwall Pierhead to the cemetery at 10:00.

At 12:00 the Tog will set off from the Kirkwall Pierhead to the Cathedral Market Green, led by members of the Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Norwegian visitors, school children and any members of the public who would like to join in.

When the Tog arrives outside the St Magnus Cathedral the Norwegian National Anthem will be played followed by a welcome speech from Orkney Islands Council's Convener, Councillor Graham Bevan. Norwegian Guests of Honour – husband and wife, Erik Bugge and Eva Charlotte Nilsen travelling from Vesteralen (group of islands NW Norway) will then make a reply speech.

Mr Bugge is a retired official who was part of a Norwegian delegation some years ago. Ms Nilsen is a film-maker and nature photographer. An example of her work was shown by the Orkney Norway Friendship Association and the West Side Cinema on Sunday 14 May, after which she gave a presentation.

Kirkwall City Pipe Band will then perform (at around 12:30) followed by the Orkney Norway Friendship Association Concert in the Cathedral, featuring pupils from Stromness Academy.

Everyone is welcome to join in the day’s events.

Norwegian Constitution Day is celebrated in Orkney every year and the longstanding relationship dates back many centuries to when the islands were populated by Norwegians in the late 700s.

In 1983 an official Twinning Agreement was signed with Hordaland County Council and at Christmas a tree is delivered to Orkney as a gift from the region. This formal agreement was reaffirmed by Vestland County Council earlier in 2022, following creation of the County in 2020 when the former counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane merged.