Friluftsliv: a love of nature that goes beyond the outdoors

In Norway we are blessed with a country of mountains, forests, valleys and fjords. It’s a land rich in nature and beauty, and there’s nothing we like more than making the most of it. We’ve even invented a word for this: friluftsliv.

Pronounced "free-loofts-live", it simply means "open-air living" and it’s part of what it means to be Norwegian. The word, made up of "friluft" (open air) and "liv" (life), reflects our belief in the wonderful benefits of being outdoors – connecting with nature and finding a healthy balance between daily life and the natural world.

Here in Norway, friluftsliv is a way of life – one that forms a core part of our national identity. It inspires the way we raise our children, provide education, spend our free time and keep fit. It's closely intertwined with the idea of kos (cosiness) - a sense of being present in the moment, similar to the Danish concept of hygge.

While friluftsliv has been a cultural cornerstone of our lives for hundreds of years, the term itself is rooted in the romantic nationalistic movement of the 1800s.

During this time we saw a growing appreciation for our natural landscapes and a desire to distinguish our identity from other European cultures, with open-air living at the very heart of it.

The term friluftsliv itself was likely coined in the late 19th century by famous explorer and polar hero, Fridtjof Nansen. He used it to describe the invigorating and rejuvenating effects of the free air life and being in nature.

Nansen believed that these were crucial for physical and mental wellbeing and the concept became popular through the works of writers and intellectuals such as Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, who romanticized nature and rural life in his works.

Today, friluftsliv is considered an essential part of our lifestyle. It's more than just recreation – it’s about cherishing a deep respect for nature and deepening our connection with the world around us.

People of all ages commonly spend their weekends or holidays outdoors, and our government supports this by providing extensive access to national parks, hiking trails and cabins, making outdoor activities accessible to all.

Studies tell us that we in Norway spend significantly more time outdoors than those in the US - and that we reap the benefits.

In fact, a 2023 survey found that 88.1% of us participate in outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, cycling and berry-picking. In the US, while outdoor activities are more popular in rural areas, children in urban areas spend far less time outside.

While us Norwegians share many of the concerns that prevent people around the world from spending time in nature – such as screen time, urbanisation and the pressures of modern life – our government invests in its deep-rooted outdoor culture, working to increase access to its areas of natural beauty.

Although we have never needed scientists to tell us about the benefits of friluftsliv, research has found that the advantages could be more extensive than we thought.

Time outdoors has multiple health benefits, both physical and mental. It sharpens focus and mental clarity, helps to lower blood pressure, boosts your immune system and improves your sleep quality.

All of this might be why us Norwegians are among the happiest people on Earth. In the UN’s 2024 World Happiness Report, Norway ranked seventh. Life feels better when you spend it outdoors.

This year we are celebrating friluftsliv in a big way. We’ve even declared 2025 “Friluftslivets år” – meaning a whole year of living the fresh-air life!

We hold this every ten years to get everybody out and about – being in the fresh air, caring for our local natural areas, discovering (or rediscovering) the spaces around us and trying our hand at new outdoor activities.

All over the country in 2025, we’ll don our outdoor clothes and venture outside, taking part in workshops, sports, guided walks and more, all to help fortify the principle of friluftsliv in people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Embracing friluftsliv doesn't need to be anything extreme. Just breathing in the fresh sea air as you watch the beautiful coast scroll by on one of our voyages counts!