The Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies

The Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies (HL-senteret) is located at Villa Grande on Bygdøy, Oslo — once the residence of Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling. Established in 2001, the centre serves as both a memorial and a research institution, documenting one of the darkest chapters in Norway’s history and exploring broader issues of prejudice and minority rights.

The permanent exhibition recounts the persecution and deportation of Norwegian Jews during World War II, when 773 were deported to Nazi death camps, with only 38 surviving. Personal stories, photographs, and artefacts illuminate the human cost of antisemitism and the machinery of genocide. Temporary exhibitions extend the scope to racism, hate speech, and the experiences of different minority groups in Norway.

The centre’s location in Quisling’s former home adds a chilling dimension, confronting visitors with the stark contrast between its past as a seat of collaboration and its present role as a place of remembrance and education. Through research, teaching, and public engagement, the HL-senteret works to combat intolerance and keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.