Island jumping in the Oslo Fjord

Yesterday, Sunday morning, we decided to do something different. We left Oslo by ferry and went island jumping between the nearest islands in the Oslofjord!With a regular public transportation ticket we could easily get on and off any of the ferries travelling between Vippetangen, Hovedøya, Lindøya, Nakholmen, Bleikøya, Gressholmen and Langøyene.Leaving Vippetangen we could have a spectacular view of Bjørvika and the almost new Oslo Opera House from the ferryFirst stop was Bleikøya 1.5 km from Vippetangen. In the Middle Ages Bleikøya was a monastic estate under Hovedøya monastery. After the king took over ownership in 1537, Bleikøya was unused until beginning of the 1700s.

During the first Norway campaign of 1716, the Swedish king Karl XII's soldiers searched shelter behind the island from the cannons of Akershus fortress.
The only farm on the Oslo Islands "Bleikøyplassen", (to be found north of the island) has been inhabited by the same family since the early 1700's. The farmers have worked with animals, grass, "vadfiske" (shore-based yarn) and boat building. The operation ceased in 1980, but the family still lives on the farm.
From Bleikøya the ferry brings you to Gressholmen.
Gressholmen airport was for the years 1927 through 1939 the location of the main airport for Oslo, until the construction of Fornebu airport. The airport was only for seaplanes.After Gressholmen the ferry brings you to Lindøya East. In 1920, Lindøya was the Oslo base for the pioneer Norwegian airline, Det Norske Luftfartrederi‎, and its seaplanes. The operation only lasted until the autumn of 1920. When regular seaplane routes were again established in 1927, the operation was moved to neighboring Gressholmen.

At Lindøya East you may take the ferry back to Oslo, but we walked across the island to Lindøya West where another ferry-route could bring us further out the Oslo Fjord to Nakholmen.
Nakholmen has settled with 182 cabins. It is not possible to extend the size of the cabins, but the value of a small cabin at the seashore has increased based upon market development. During the 2000's different media has regularly reported on cabin owners who received orders to demolish the annex.(But have they done so?) In 2006, Aftenposten reported that a cabin at 27 square meter at Nakholmen was sold for 2.8 million NOK, and in 2010 one cabin (36 sqm) was sold far over the estimated market prize of 4.150.000 nok.On the way back to the town, we took a short stopover at Hovedøen where a cup of coffee, waffle and ice-cream was on the menue.The Cistercian monastery, Hovedøya Abbey, was built on Hovedøen, and opened on 18 May 1147. During the Medieval period, the monastery was a leading economical force in the Oslo region. It was however closed down before the Reformation after the abbot came into conflict with King Christian II.
The military official at Akershus Fortress had the abbot imprisoned and the monastery looted and burned down in 1532. Parts of the ruins of the monastery remain on the island, but much of the stonework was used in the expansion of Akerhus Fortress in the 17th century.
Then it is only to enter the ferry for the last voyage this Sunday, and head for Vippetangen and Oslo coastal side with Aker Brygge and the City Hall. A nice and recommended tour. Next time we also include Langøyene on the jumping activity.