N RTHERN

LIGHTS
ISSUE 3//2017

It all started with

a raffle ticket
P4-7
IMPORTANT DATES
OCTOBER ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Den Norske Klub:
Wealth Planning & Aquavit
Tasting with Danske Bank
9 15 19
NOVEMBER
DNK Christmas Julebord

DECEMBER
Lighting of the Christmas
Oslo at the Cod Liver Oil but not Taking a stroll through
Tree Trafalgar Square Nationaltheatre as you used to know it Imperial Russia

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 1
 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 03 Message from
Your Board

It all started with

04 a raffle ticket

Oslo at the
09 Nationaltheatre
September
26th
29th
Fireside Chat
DNK Frikl Supper 10 DNK Merchandise

30th Late Nordic Sounds

The inauguration
30th Floral Night Episodes
11 of St Olavs Square
October in London
6th DNK Fredagspils
Cod Liver Oil
17th Den Norske Klub: Wealth Planning & Aquavit Tasting
with Danske Bank 15 but not as you
used to know it
19th Trafalgar Dinner
27th Octoberfest
DISCOVERY:
November 19 Taking a stroll
through Imperial
3rd DNK Fredagspils
Russia
16th Beaujolais Dinner
25th DNK Christmas Julebord Tasting Aquavit
30th Robert Wells Trio Live in Holborn 22 with Jon Anders

December NORWEGIANS IN
1st DNK Fredagspils
6th Carol Service
25 FOCUS: Jo Nesbo
(author)
7th Lighting of the Christmas Tree Trafalgar Square
9th Club Christmas Party INVESTOR CORNER:
26 Banks need to be
more sustainable
HOW TO BOOK
Please e-mail: secretary@dennorskeklub.co.uk 28 Urbanologie

EVENT CANCELLATION Membership

Please note that cancellation of events made less than 29 Benefits
seven days before the event will not be refunded.
31 Your Board

Your Board Although every effort has been made

Cecilia Luras Chair and Editor-in-Chief to ensure accuracy, neither Den Norske
Hege Nordahl Board Member Klub in London nor the authors can
accept liability for errors or emissions.
Constanse Bowes-Lyon Board Member and Editor Views expressed in this newsletter
Christian Hvamstad Treasurer are not necessarily those of Den
Irene Garland Board Member Norske Klub. No responsibility can be
accepted for unsolicited submissions,
Pauline Houppilart Board Member
transparencies or photographs. All
prices and information contained in
Patrick Moe Legal Counsel and Company Secretary event advertisements are correct at the
Patrick Jonassen IT Counsel time of going to press.

2 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Message from YOUR BOARD
Dear Members
Welcome to the new autumn edition of
Northern Lights which features not only
memories from the raffle prizes at the epic
17th May Celebratory Dinner which was
held in the beautiful and newly refurbished
King Harald V room, but also an interview
with aquavit expert Jon Anders Fjeldsrud,
ahead of the upcoming aquavit tasting
with Danske Bank International, the story of
Vesteraalens Tran Fabrikker as they launch
their latest tran innovations in the UK (did
you know it comes in vanilla flavor?), a new
article series featuring famous Norwegians,
in this edition were putting a focus on
author Jo Nesb, as well as our account
from the unveiling of the beautiful King
Haakon VII bust at St Olavs Church in
London by Princess Astrid.
The introduction of the new A5 format
received overwhelming feedback and we
hope you continue to enjoy the two regular
columns, Discovery featuring travel, culture
and food reviews, and Investors Corner
with the latest investment musings from
a selection of Nordic industry experts.
In the latest issue, Board Member and
Editor Constanse Bowes- Lyon tells us
about her latest visit to Russia, and SEBs
Chief Sustainability Economist Klas Eklund
updates us on sustainable investments.
We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming you
all back for the first official Fredagspils
on September 1st. Den Norske Klub Art
Series saw its launch with an evening at
the Natinaltheatre seeing Bertlett Shers
production of the new play Oslo by J.T.
Rogers. It has already been nominated to
7 Tony Awards including Best Play and
Best Direction of a Play. The event was
accompanied by a pre-theatre talk by the
Norwegian Ambassador to the UK H.E.
Mona Juhl, and one of the masterminds
behind the Oslo accords, making it a truly
memorable moment.
Over the next few months and in the run-
up to Christmas you will be able to enjoy
New Members
Henrik Boge Thu Claes & Yasar Zangenberg Mikkel Skajem PAG Anderssong
Lars Eikeland Ryan Tingal
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
attending the annual Frikl dinner at the
Norwegian Sjmannskirken in London
at the end of September, the In&Outs
Trafalgar dinner in October, a Wealth
Planning Seminar and Aquavit Tasting with
Danske Bank International in October, and
Den Norske Klubs Traditional Christmas
Julebord in November, as well as a special
soon-to-be-announced moment when the
Norwegian Christmas tree lights are lit in
Trafalgar Square in December.
In conjunction with DNKs 130th anniversary,
we re-launched the Klubs historic cufflinks
and have created a new elegant Klub
tie, taking its inspirations from the colors
of the Norwegian flag both with such
enormous success that were considering
ordering another batch just in time for those
Christmas presents. Both ties and cufflinks
are available to purchase at your leisure
directly from the Babmaes reception.
Were advancing on the Den Norske Klubs
patrons scheme, dedicated to the Klub, the
newly re-decorated King Harald V room and
the paintings of the Norwegian Royal family
that you read about in the winter edition of
Northern Lights, and will be soliciting your
views on how we can make the club an
even better place for Norwegians living in
and visiting London during the autumn.
In the mean time, we wish all our members a
lovely start to the autumn and look forward
to seeing you in October for the clubs first
Wealth Planning seminar with Danske Bank
International, at the annual Julebord in
November, the next Fredagspils and all the
other exciting events your new board are
planning for the coming months.
Warm regards, Chair Cecilia Luras on behalf
of the DNK Board.
P.S. Dont miss the chance to become
a full Den Norske Klub member you
can find your application form on
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk/ membership.
3
 We were celebrating 17 mai, at Den
Norske Klub, and bought some raffle
tickets.We won. Not a large round
of cheese, not some makrell i tomat,
but we won an envelope. Inside the
envelope, courtesy of NSB, we had
won a return ticket to anywhere.
IT ALL
STARTED
WITH A
RAFFLE
TICKET
By Wenche Skogly Swift
Next question, where should we go?
Just 2,539 miles of track to choose
from (UK has 9,817 miles), and some
of the most beautiful railway journeys
in the world.
4 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Nusfjord Lofoten
Lonely Planet has the following from
the ten most scenic in Europe
1. R
 auma Line from Dombs
to ndalsnes (Norway)
Enjoy sensational views of high peaks,
jagged rock faces and mountain slopes
leading up to windswept plateaus as you
trace the Rauma River. Europes highest
perpendicular rock face is at Trollveggen,
and the beautifully arched Kylling Bridge
near Verma. Distance 114km
2. B
 ergen Line with Flm Railway
between Oslo and Bergen via
Flm (Norway)
Roll through craggy mountain landscapes
and across the beautiful Hardangervidda
Plateau to Norways highest station,
Finse (1222m), on this awe-inspiring
train journey. From Myrdal to Flm you
go straight up on the worlds steepest
railway line. Dont miss The Flm Railway
Documentation Centre to learn more
about this feat of engineering.
Distance 550km
3. West Highland Line, Fort William
to Mallaig (Scotland)
This is certainly one scenic route: rugged
highlands and isolated lochs, flashes of
coastline, Ben Nevis (Britains highest
mountain), and spectacular views from the
viaduct at Glenfinnan. The line and steam
train are so easy on the eye that they crop
up as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry
Potter films. Dont miss the tasty seafood
in Mallaig. Distance 67km
Places four to ten are occupied by Coastal
Italy or the Alps.
Leather benches in dining car
W
e wanted to go on a sleeper train.
Of course, a sleeper train, at night,
will, by definition, also make it equal
last for the most scenic journey, a bit like a
ten hour long tunnel, but a return journey
would allow one night sector and one day
sector so covering the best of both worlds.
Night trains (Sovetog) are dying out all
over Europe, although they were the most
glamorous and romantic way to travel.
Mysterious, murderous things happened with
the Murder on the Orient Express and The
Girl on the Train. Spying, Illicit Relationships,
Murders; anything can happen on a night
train.
Killed by Ryan Air, Easy Jet and the high
speed trains TGV, ICE, they cannot compete
commercially with those cheap and fast
alternatives, and to survive they need a
government subsidy. But most of the long
distance trains, originally centred on Paris,
were international, and as you guessed no
two governments can agree, so they closed
them down.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Photos by Wenche Skogly Swift
Wide and pleasant corridor on Sovetog
Most of the remaining Sovetog are therefore
domestic.
UK still has three. One from Paddington
to Penzance, but the bigger and more
successful are the two from Euston. Six days
a week (not Saturday night) you will find the
23.50 Lowlander, departing for Edinburgh
and Glasgow but earlier, far more fun, the
21.15 (boarding from 20.30) Highlander to
Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen. Many
parties start in the dining car at 20.31, and
continue till well past the Northern Border.
This train leaves London, with 16 carriages,
and is the longest domestic train in UK.
It splits into three sections, basically at
Edinburgh, with one third going to each
of the above destinations. There is a story
of the partying in the buffet car, and a girl
leaving at 1am to see her new found friends
movie collection in his compartment. It was
when the train arrived at Pitlochry, and
her bags were unloaded and her husband
was awaiting her on the platform, that
she remembered that the train had split
5
 Hjerkinn Station from 1921. The
highest point of the line, 1024
metres, is one kilometre north
Bodo Station
in Edinburgh, and she was now on the
Aberdeen section.
Norway still has four. Oslo to Bergen,
Trondheim, Stavanger and Trondheim to
Bod. The Oslo-Stockholm is run by SJ,
Swedish Railways.
Anyway, back to the raffle, and thanks to the
kindness of NSB we got tickets from Oslo to
Trondheim and then on to Bod, alternating
night and day sectors.
The railway came quite late to Norway,
with the first Oslo-Eidsvoll section opening
in 1854. It reached Trondheim in 1881, and
slowly it proceeded north to Grong, 100
miles of Trondheim in 1929. Thanks to many
Russian, Polish and Serbian workers, under
German Supervision, it was lengthened
and improved, but did not reach until
in 1962. You can guess the architecture
of the stations reflect the dates of their
construction.
Sleeper Scotland have just spent 150million
on 75 news carriages, (2 million each),
6 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Kyssbt over
Holandsfjord
to Svartisen
which will replace the current carriages
which date back to the 1960s. Their new
carriages, to be introduced in 2018, will be
vastly improved and have been, and will be,
very much publicised, but most of those
improvements are already incorporated in
the NSB Sovetog.
We often travel to Fort William by sleeper,
but these NSB carriages are pure luxury
compared to the current carriages in UK. NSB
trains are much, much smoother, and quieter.
No rattling doors to the compartments, no
slam doors to the platform, and altogether a
really luxurious and relaxing experience. One
does actually sleep and arrive refreshed, and
not in need of a proper sleep or a siesta.
Although the wheels are still standard
gauge (4ft 81/2 inchesTrivial Pursuit
question), the NSB carriages are of a different
loading gauge. Hence the carriages are
both higher and wider, which makes the
sleeping compartment higher and airier, and
the corridor roomier with spaces for seating
and even retractable tables.
With NSB, it is impossible for a passenger
to leave the dining car directly onto the
platform. He must first go to the adjacent
car. There are doors for the loading of
food of course, but all that wasted area at
both ends of the dining car to incorporate
the unnecessary doors to the platform, is
utilised in more seating and dining space.
So thank you to NSB.
If you want to have a travel experience, and
not just a plane ride, it need not cost too
much. Book up early and a mini pris Oslo-
Bodo will cost less than 400 Nkr.
The sovekupe costs a supplement of 930
NKr, and that is for either one or two
people.

So having arrived in Bodo, what did So now expectantly awaiting the next, 17
mai, gala dinner with den Norske Klub. We
we do?
recommend all of it, particularly the raffle.
Picked up a hire car, although a lot of
people choose to explore in a Bobil
(Motorhome). Every third vehicle in Lofoten
was a bobil.
We went north, to beautiful Kjerringoy and
then South down part of the Kystriksveien,
which goes 650kms to Steinkjer. We only
got as far as Svartisen, Norways second
largest glacier (380 sq kms and 600 m
deep), before after two days, returning to
Bodo and taking the Bodo-Moskenes ferry
across to the spectacular Lofoten Islands.
Surely the most beautiful islands in the
world.

Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 7
 FINDING SOLUTIONS.
TOGETHER.
They are people we trust
and like to do business with.
Chambers Europe, 2017

LONDON OSLO BERGEN

Paternoster House, 2nd Floor Haakon VIIs gate 10 Vestre Strmkaien 7
65 St Pauls Churchyard PO Box 1484 Vika PO Box 43 Nygrdstangen
London EC4M 8AB NO0161 Oslo NO5838 Bergen
England Norway Norway
Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS. www.thommessen.no/en
 DEN NORSKE KLUB ART SERIES

The fleeting moment of bright hope the

shaking of hands by the leaders of Israel
and Palestine on the lawn of the White
House in 1993 brought, is exceptionally
conveyed in Bartlett Shers acclaimed
Broadway production Oslo. Den Norske
Klub Art Series premiered last week with
our viewing of the show and pre-talk with
Norwegian Ambassador H.E. Mona Juul
at the Nationaltheatre in London.

OSLO By Cecilia Luras

at the Nationaltheatre
The pre-theatre talk with the current
Norwegian Ambassador to the UK H.E.
Mona Juul illuminates Shers (artistic)
Photo by Helen Metcalfe

interpretation, providing substance to the

Bartlett Shers artistic interpretation of the
secret peace talks between Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization that led to
the Oslo Accords, is a truly superbe piece.
Expertly guided by Lydia Leonard playing
H.E. Mona Juul, the viewer is taken straight
into the intimacy of the intense behind-the-
scenes work. The portrayal of Ahmed Qurie
by Peter Polycarpou and Uri Savir by Philip
Arditti, the chief negotiators representing
the PLO, respectively the Israeli government,
shows how far apart the two sides had
been pushed by history, and yet how the
diplomatic theory of gradualism developed
and put into practice by Rod-Larsen/Juul,
pushed the negotiators to work towards
closing the void by giving each a meaningful
personal stake in the other. The two are still
close friends today.
suspence the viewer feels throughouth the
play - will, will they not succeed? - as well
as background to the couples involvement
in the Middle East from Juuls first overseas
posting to the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo,
via Rod-Larsens project into the living
conditions of Palestinians on the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip, and culminating
in Juuls post as Norways Ambassador
to Israel. The events on the lawn of the
White House and subsequent joint Noble
Peace Prize award to PLO leader Yasser
Arafat, and Israels Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres,
confirms the big steps all parties involved
took to create peace.
Bartlett Shers Oslo is showing at the
National Theatre until September 30th
before moving to the Harold Pinter Theatre
in the West End where you can enjoy it
until the end of the year.
Keep an eye out for the next Den Norske
Klub Art Series Event.

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 9
 DEN NORSKE KLUB
MERCHANDISE
Den Norske Klub TIE
We are delighted
to announce
the generation
of a new Den
Norske Klub
tie, which has
been approved
by the Board
and launched
at the recent
17th May dinner.
The members of DNK can now wear their
very own tie. Loosely designed around the
colours of the Flag of Norway, the tie also
features the DNK emblem and is ideal for
all occasions. It is made in the UK from pure
silk and the special label on the reverse
sports the date of the Klubs foundation,
with images of those cornerstones of
Norwegian culture: a kransekake and a
bottle of aquavit!

Den Norske Klub CUFFLINKS

We are also delighted to announce
that we have a new, limited, batch
of DNK cufflinks in stock. Its been a
number of years since theyve been
available and a number of members
have asked
whether they
were scheduled
to make a
return. In time
for DNKs 130
year anniversary,
theyre back!

Den Norske Klub ties, cufflinks and tie-pins can now

be bought directly from the Babmaes reception.

10 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
 Photos by Irene Garland
THE INAUGURATION
OF ST OLAVS SQUARE
in London By Cecilia Luras

I had the great pleasure to be invited

to the inauguration of St Olavs Square
and the unveiling of a bronze bust
of King Haakon VII last Sunday at
St Olavs church, the Norwegian
Church Abroad in London.

Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 11
 Arriving at the church I was struck by the
elegance of the new courtyard leading
up to St Olavs church. Entirely paved in
sandstone and decorated with a plethora
of classy flowers and plants, the restoration
of St Olavs court has been beautifully
achieved. As I walk up towards the entrance,
young ladies from the congregation, dressed
in the Norwegian bunad, eagerly await the
arrival of Her Highness Princess Astrid. As
she arrives accompanied by the Norwegian
Ambassador to the UK H.E. Juul , she is
greeted by Reverend Torbjorn Holt and
receives bouquets of flowers from the young
Norwegian girls. After the extended church
service in a jam-packed church, the guests
step outside for the unveiling of the bust of
King Haakon VII.
Before the very special moment when
Princess Astrid unveils the strikingly
beautiful bronze bust of King Haakon VII,
we hear speeches by reverend Holt and
representatives of Southwark Council. The
very special moment, which was beautifully
captured by The Norwegian Broadcasting
12
Corporation, NRK, for retransmission back
in Norway, was followed by the posing of
a reith in memory of the first and second
world wars by the honorary Mr Rolf
Christophersen. With his wife Angela, Rolf is
an honorary member, as well as one of the
longest standing members, of Den Norske
Klub.
The inauguration was followed by lovely
canaps, cakes and waffles, made by
the exquisite kitchen of Anne Cathrine
Bergstrom, chef-in-residence at the
Norwegian Church in London, and
mingling between friends in the Norwegian
community.
Late afternoon we enjoyed a lecture by
author and historian Tor Bomann-Larsen
describing the significant contributions
made by King Haakon VII during the second
world war. King Haakon VII has a very
special place in Norwegian history. Not only
was he the first King of Norway following
the dissolution of the union with Sweden
in 1905, he also played a pivotal role in the
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Norwegian resistance to German invasion
and subsequent 5-year-long occupation
during the second world war.
The Norwegian Church Abroad, otherwise
known as Sjomannskirken, has been present
in London since the late 17th century. The
foundation stone for the current church
building, close to the river Thames at St
Olavs Square, was laid by Prince Olav in
1926, and the church formally opened in
1927. Whilst the Norwegian Churches Abroad
continue to be central meeting places for
Norwegians living abroad, St Olavs has
a special place in Norwegian history as
the church where King Haakon VII and his
government in exile not only worshipped
during the second world war but also
recorded many of their regular BBC World
Service radio broadcasts.
The bust of King Haakon VII, sculpted by
the artist Nils Aas, made of solid bronze and
posing on a granite block, is located in the
courtyard of St Olavs Church and can be
enjoyed by all.

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 13
 Planning the future for you and
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To find out what we can do for your personal wealth
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This publication is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a financial promotion. The SEB Group offers private banking services through an international network of SEB offices.
Any contractual relationship related to the provision of regulated private banking services will be with the relevant SEB offi ce based outside the United Kingdom.
Everyone growing up in
Norway will have tasted
Vesteraalens Fiskeboller
(Fish Balls), a flagship
product for more
than a century from
Vesteraalen AS.

COD
LIVER OIL
BUT NOT AS YOU
USED TO KNOW IT
By Suzanne Morgan

The Vesteraalen Canning Factory was founded by a

local property owner, Georg Ellingsen, on 19 April 1912. It
benefitted hugely from the publicity generated after Roald
Amundsen (who raced Robert F Scott to the South Pole)
ordered some canned fish products for his expedition
through the Northwest Passage (1918 1920) and went on to
become a household name for generations of Norwegians.
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 15
 The original factory in Sortland was
unfortunately completely destroyed by fire
in 1991. The owners at the time proposed
moving the production permanently to
Sweden however permission was never
granted. In 2009, production was again
stopped after nearly 100 years of operation,
the Norwegian people protested. Facebook
groups were created, numerous newspaper
articles were written and eventually the
people won: In August 2009 Vesteraalens
AS reopened with new owners, who
continue to invest in the company. In
2018 a new production facility will open
which has a unique sustainable setup that
processes the entire fish for novel food and
supplement applications.
Sortland is a small town with around 10 000
inhabitants on the Lofoten - Vesteraalen
Archipelago about 6 hoursdrive north of
the Arctic Circle. Due to the warm Gulf
Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate
than other parts of the world at the same
latitude, and the waters around the islands
are among the best in Norway for fishing,
yielding vast catches of cod, haddock, and
16
halibut. Fishing and fish processing are
virtually the sole economic activity. It is this
abundant supply of fresh fish,in particular
skrei, which is so important for the quality
and hence the success of Vesteraalen.
Skrei is Norwegian Arctic cod renowned for
its lean meat and distinct, delicious taste. Its
also reported to have the highest nutritional
value of all cod. Every year between
January and April the Norwegian coastline
comes alive for the much anticipated skrei
(pronounced sk-rey) season, when millions
of large, mature fish undertake their annual
journey from the Barents Sea back to their
spawning grounds that surround Norways
Lofoten islands. The name skrei comes
from an oldNorse word that means to
move forward or migrate.
The fish is around five years old when it
reaches adulthood and is ready to make
this journey. The largest and oldest cod,
mainly females, reach the spawning grounds
first; the males arrive later and dominate in
numbers.
Vesteraalen because of its unique location,
collect their skrei and the livers used in their
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
products directly from the boats so they are effect on cardiovascular health, and help
super fresh and they are processedwithin repair wounded teeth, nails, hair, and skin.
a very short period of time. This gives the With the launch of their new cod liver oil in
company a leading edge in the market, in stylish glass bottles, the more than 100 year
particular with the sensory taste quality old Vesteraalen has moved into the 21st
of their final products. Vesteraalens cod century, catering for a new understanding of
liver oil has one of lowest oxidation levels a healthy diet and natural products.
commercially available. Apparently it is this
oxidation which produce the smell and taste
that those of us who grew up with a spoon
of cod liver oil every morning in winter,
remember with distaste.
A new omega-3 launch from Vesteraalen
has a neutral taste profile and no one should
be scared to try it,particularly these days
when we are all told to increase our intake
of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) as
part of our diets. For this purpose cod liver
oil is a very important food supplement.
In addition to the omega 3 fatty acids,
Vesteraalens innovative natural and vanilla
nutritionists point to the relatively high
scented tran will soon be available to
amounts of vitamin A and D. Studies have
purchase in the UK.
also found that cod liver oil may have some
very important therapeutic properties. It
is thought to help relieve joint stiffness
associated with arthritis, have a positive

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 17
 Europes most
spectacular
train journeys

Foto: Ole Walter Jacobsen

The Bergen Railway
The mountain track to the fjords
The Bergen Railway is voted to be one of
the worlds top 10 most spectacular railways.

On the way from Oslo to Bergen you can enjoy the changing scenery with
views of forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, glaciers and fjords. The railway includes
the highest stretch of train tracks in Northern Europe.

The nsb.no/bergenrailway site contains an infomercial presenting the

route and the unique travel experience.

There are several departures every day all year round.

For more details and reservation see nsb.no or call (+47) 815 00 888.
D I S COV E RY

Taking a stroll through

IMPERIAL RUSSIA By Constanse Bowes Lyon

Many cities have been described as the Venice

of the north, however few are as deserving of
this accolade as St Petersburg. Situated on the
Neva River on the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg,
Russias second largest city and cultural heart is
steeped in history and remains a treasure trove
of long wide avenues, architecture, world class
museums, churches and art collections. The
city is home to 36 UNESCO world heritage
listed architectural complexes and another
4000 individual monuments. And it has had
many names; St Petersburg, Petrograd and
Leningrad but it has always kept its charm.
The citys northern location results in ever
changing weather but come rain or shine,
St Petersburg sparkles. Staying a weekend
or even a week seems barely enough time
to scrape the surface of this world metropolis
and former capital of Imperial Russia.
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 19
 On Arrival; Taxis and hotels
Taxi drivers, particularly taking visitors from
the airport to the city centre, are notorious
for charging eye watering prices. We quickly
discovered this after trusting a friendly
driver who promised to put on the meter.
As we arrived at our hotel, we quickly and
unwilling paid the inflated fare and made
our way to what shouldnt really have
been described as a hotel. The place was
incredibly central (right by the Hermitage
in fact!) but of such low standard that we
quickly and very deliberately changed
hotels. After a few teething problems, we
quickly made our way into to the heart of
the city to start exploring.
The Founding of the City
On the north bank of the river Neva lies
Peter and Paul fortress, the original citadel
of St Petersburg. The citadel was founded
by Peter the Great and built according to
designs by Trezzini and was later used as
both a prison and execution ground by the
Bolshevik.
20
Today it houses an array of museums and at
its centre, lies the Peter and Paul Cathedral
were generations of tsars and tsarinas lie
buried. The cathedral is well worth a visit
with, Peter the Greats grave, one of many
highlights. To the left and right of the
cathedral are a myriad of museums, most
connected to the history of the fortress
however some, seem to have a vague
connection at best.
Across the river lies the Hermitage, the
building that for many visitors is synonyms
with St Petersburg.
Hermitage; A Collection Befitting an
Empress
A highlight of any visit and the top of
most itineraries (it would seem from the
queues to enter) is a visit to the world class
collections at the Hermitage and Winter
Palace, where visitors get their first taste
of old imperial Russia. Started by Catherine
II and opened to the public by Nicolas I, it
is easy to lose a day or two just trying to
explore a fraction of the three million items
displayed across 360 rooms. Highlights
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
range from paintings by Borovikovsky, Da
Vinci, Gainsborough, Rubens, Van Dyck
covering the walls to glass, costumes,
jewelry and even artifacts from Peter the
Greats study.
We arrived having already bought our
tickets online and smugly walked past the
visitors queuing up in front of the ticket
counter. Nothing really prepares you for the
splendor of the palace and collection of art.
We spent hours and hours exploring but
you could easily spend days trying to see
just a few of the highlights.
Palaces, Churches & Cathedrals
Another gem in St Petersburg architectural
crown and situated on the river bank is the
Church of the Saviour of Spilled Blood. Both
the inside and outside of this church is as
colourful as it is splendid with onion shaped
domes and awe-inspiring mosaics from floor
to ceiling. A few minutes walk down one of
the citys wide avenues and main shopping
street lies Kazan Cathedral, another
architectural masterpiece. Its style is closer
to Roman or Greek than its counterparts in
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
the city and the interior is opulent but every
bit as beautiful as its counterparts scattered
across the city.
Closer to the Hermitage and in the very
heart of historical St Petersburg lies St
Isaacs Cathedral, one of the worlds largest
one doomed cathedrals. The imposing
building is, similarly to other churches in the
city still used as a house of worship.
No visit to the city is complete without
a concert and in St Petersburg, there is
one every night. With a mighty handful of
Russian composers, from Tchaikovsky to
Stravinsky and Rachmanioff, there really
is something for everyone. We were lucky
enough to see concert at the Vladimir
Palace, the last imperial palace to be
constructed in the city for Grand Duke
Vladimir Alexandrovich.
There were places we didnt have a
chance to see on this visit like Peterhof
and Catherines Palace at Tsarskoye Selo,
however with St Petersburg, there is always
a reason to go back!
21
 Aquavit is a traditional Scandinavian
snaps. At Den Norske Klub we have
the pleasure of hosting Aquavit
Expert Jon Anders Fjeldsrud
Tuesday 17th October for an aquavit
tasting. The Northern Lights team
met up with him to warm us up for
the tasting.

TASTING AQUAVIT
with Jon Anders
Interview with Jon Anders Fjeldsrud, Amathus Aquavit & Spirits Expert.

22 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
How would you describe aquavit?
Aquavit is an aromatic spirit, the main
flavors are dill or caraway. Its made like gin
but its not a gin or a flavored vodka. Its
an aquavit and aquavit is its own category
of spirits. Swedish and Danish aquavits are
normally made from neutral barley sprit
and flavored lightly, Norwegian aquavit is
made from neutral potato spirits and then
flavored a little heavier for then to be aged
in wooden barrels.
How did you become interested in
aquavit?
Always I guess, its very Scandinavian and
it was always there, mostly with food and
always for Christmas, never in excess but
always more than one, so its part of my
heritage.
bubble burst and there were no graphic
designer jobs available so instead of going
back to Norway, I stayed. To stay I needed
to earn a living, so I started working in bars.
I worked in bars for about 15 years, first as
a bartender and then as manager, before
starting work for a wholesaler.
Is it possible to get all kinds of aquavits
in London?
Yes, at the Amathus store in Soho, you can
find c.18 different brands. And at Aquavit,
the newly opened restaurant in St. James,
they have more than 50 varieties.
Jon Anders Fjeldsrud is Amathus Sprits
and Aquavit expert. He will be performing
an Aquavit Tasting at Den Norske Klub
Tuesday 17th October.

Which is your favorite aquavit?

And how do you drink it? I like a few
different ones, I think its more about
marrying flavors, like what kind of food you
eat and thats also a little bit how you drink
it. Some aquavits work great slightly chilled
and some at room temperature. I think
Aalborg Taffel is great. So much caraway.
Or the Linie Madeira cask. And Skne is a
very good all-rounder.

You have pioneered aquavit as a base

for cocktails, which aquavit based
cocktail would be your favorite?
I like simple cocktails. Aquavit with
vermouths. Or just simply an aquavit and
tonic works very well together.

What sort of food would you serve

with aquavit?
Fish and seafoods are great with dill
aquavits, but also pork with a Gammel
Opland Aquavit. In fact, any traditional
Nordic dish tastes great accompanied by
aquavit. Surprisingly, a lightly flavored
aquavit would also work very well with
Korean dishes,.

How did you get into the spirits

business?
I finished college just after the first .com

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 23
Foto: Stein Lindseth Olsen/Anunatak AS

Foto: nsb.no
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His books have topped the Sunday
Times bestseller chart, sold more
than 33 million copies worldwide and
have been published in 50 languages.
Few Norwegian crime authors are
as widely known as Jo. With books
like The Redbreast, Nemesis, The
Devils Star and The Snowman, he has
quickly become a household name for
Norwegians and Brits alike.

NORWEGIANS IN FOCUS

JO NESBO (AUTHOR)
By Constanse Bowes Lyon

In every edition of Northern Lights we appetite to turn his books into films. In
will put the spotlight on a renowned 2011, The Headhunters was turned into a
Norwegian. It could be an author, explorer, film starring celebrated Norwegian actor,
artist, musician, politician or designer who Aksel Hennie. Whilst The Snowman was
has made their mark on the world. For the most recently adapted to film starring
inaugural edition and perhaps appropriately Michael Fassbender and due for release
for Autumn, we look closer at one of this October. There are also plans to
Norways most famous crime authors, turn The Son, Blood On Snow and I Am
Jo Nesbo. Victor into films and the latter into a tv
series directed
But Jo, isnt just a writer but an ex
by Baltasar
Norwegian premier league football player
Kormakur.
(a career ended due to injury), former
financial analyst, member of the band Di Jo has been
Derre and taxi driver. A master of many touring in the
trades, his writing career started when UK and US and
he was commissioned to write about the rumour has it
life on the road which later became the hell be back
inspiration for, The Bat, the first book of the in the UK later
renowned Harry Hole series. this year. In
the meantime,
Readers and reviewers alike rave about
some readers
his books. Michael Connelly calls Nesbo
might want to
his favourite crime thriller writer whilst
pick up and
CNN says he might be the next Ibsen or
enjoy his latest
Much. Which such glowing accolades it
book, The Bat.
is no wonder there has been an insatiable

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 25
 I N V E S TO R CO R N E R
NAME: Klaus Ekland
TITLE: SEB Chief Sustainability Economist
Banks need to be more
SUSTAINABLE
S
ustainability has become a buzz
word in the financial sector. There
are two main reasons why this is
happening now. The financial crisis in 2007-
08 triggered a deep recession in many
countries. Also, new temperature records
show that the planet is heating.
Both these factors are of great importance.
Public and media distrust means the
financial sector has to work hard to regain
confidence. Global warming and political
decisions to curb temperature will likewise
drive changes in lending, investing and new
products.
26
The investments needed on a global scale
to transform the energy sector are huge.
At the same time, hundreds of millions of
peasants in India, China and other populous
emerging economies are moving from
the countryside into the cities creating
need for housing, infrastructure, waste
management, fresh water etc. And then, of
course, there is the need for reforestation,
cleaning up toxic rivers and remediation of
environmentally damaged land.
Thus, the need for investment in green
energy and infrastructure runs into trillions
of dollars, world-wide. Consequently,
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
sustainable banking has climbed high on the
agenda. As a result, we see more and more
banks reshaping their business models,
becoming more long-term, launching
new green products and services,
monitoring and reporting their actions in a
transparent way. Sure, some of it may be
greenwashing, but I am sure most banks
are serious about their commitment.
The term sustainability is very broad
and includes several different aspects
of banking. There are three dimensions:
Environmental, social and governance, or
ESG in our lingo.
E
 nvironmental is obvious: reduce your
own emissions, but also make sure your
core business lending, investing etc
contribute to improved environmental
conditions.
G
 overnance is equally obvious: be
transparent, long-term and responsible,
compliant with regulations, laws and
mores.
S
 ocial commitment may mean many
different things. But health and
competence of the employees is of course
crucial, as well as initiatives to support
the social structure in the companys
neighborhood: local sports teams,
initiatives to fight drugs among youngsters,
support to local entrepreneurs etc.
What does sustainability look like in
practice?
Let me give you a few concrete examples
from my own bank, SEB the only Nordic
bank included in Dow Jones Sustainability
Index:
W
 e support young and local
entrepreneurs, from the very first attempts
to create business cases in high school
and on to leading rapidly-growing
companies.
S
 EB invests in micro funds to promote
small-scale entrepreneurship in emerging
markets. This is a way to gain yield from
an alternative asset class while at the
same time supporting literally thousands
of aspiring entrepreneurs and thereby
stimulate growth and transformation in
poor societies.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Our Investment management not only
excludes a number of non-sustainable
companies and sectors from being part
of our funds, but also actively seeks to
include companies and sectors which have
a positive impact.
In International Private Banking SEB
is developing a framework for how to
discuss and advise clients on sustainable
investments and Impact investing. We
have also developed sustainable or
impact portfolios with a multi-asset
approach.
SEB is one of the founding fathers of the
Green bond, which makes it possible to
fund environmentally sound projects via
the capital market.
While the palette of green products and
services will expand there are several
challenges ahead.
The rapid growth of the green bond market
also entails a risk of green-wash. Therefore,
emissions of green bonds should take
place within a framework, where green
is defined, vetted by second opinions and
monitored in a transparent way.
Financial regulators are starting to demand
measurements of the environmental
impact of credit portfolios. At the same
time, depositors, both private clients
and institutions, want to make sure their
deposits are not used in an unsustainable
way, like financing investments in coal
mining or nuclear weapons.
Thus, banks must put great efforts into
measuring and monitoring their credits and
fund management. Previously, we have been
good at financial analysis. Now we must
become good also at analyzing the financial
effects of climate change, environmental
policy and technical change.
In one sense, this is what we always have
done when new sectors and rapid technical
change have created new business. But now
we need to hone those skills in a new setting
and increase our knowledge also about
environment, energy and human rights.
Those banks who are able to meet his
challenge will come out winners. The rest
are losers.
27
 Den Norske Klub member
invitation code: dennorskeklub

Urbanologie
has been described by the FT and Town &
Country magazine as the must have VIP
lifestyle app. Designed to keep U in the
know with up-to-the-minute insider news
and exclusive content of all the new hip
hangouts, pop-ups, recommended events
and the most anticipated restaurant, bar,
club and hotel openings; also discover
interactive editorials featuring insider
knowledge, from recommending the best
tables to signature dishes and access daily
updated editorial content as selected by
in-house editors, local contributors and
influencers.
Urbanologie has daily-updated, insider
guides to London, New York, Miami, Los
Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Ibiza and Mallorca,
with more to follow.
Den Norske Klub have partnered with
Urbanologie to offer you a years FREE
membership. To access your membership
(saving 100) just enter the invitation code
dennorskeklub at www.urbanologie.com.
Discover the world according to U.

28 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Membership Benefits
All Den Norske Klub members have access to The
Naval & Military Club (the In & Out). The members may
use the bars, restaurant, gym, swimming pool, spa and
squash court. The In & Out offers discounted overnight
accommodation and at their affiliate clubs around the world. The In & Out also organise
many fabulous events - such as wine tastings, lectures and dinners.
Please visit their homepage www.navalandmilitaryclub.co.uk for more information.

Discounted prices from Scandinavian Kitchen

Scandinavian Kitchen kindly offers a 10% discount in their cafe. It is valid on all caf items,
although not on retail goods nor with other offers. DNK members should bring with
them their membership card to obtain the discount. Scandinavian Kitchen also offers 10%
discount on the first online order.
Please visit their website www.scandikitchen.co.uk and enter the code norwayclub.

Discounted prices from Tiger of Sweden

Tiger of Sweden kindly offers DNK members a 20% discount on shop prices and personal
shopping appointments at their flagship store on Piccadilly and in their store in Canary
Wharf. Please remember to bring your membership card with you.
Please visit their homepage www.tigerofsweden.com/gb for further information.

Discounted prices from Swedish Chair

The Swedish furniture importer Swedish Chair is pleased to offer DNK members a 10%
discount on all purchases.
Please visit their homepage www.theswedishchair.com for further information.

Enjoy free entry to

The Roof Gardens
The Roof Gardens, an exclusive members-only nightclub off Kensington High Street, offers
DNK members and one guest free entry to the nightclub (Q-jump).
All members and one guest have VIP complimentary entry to The Roof Gardens all year.
Additional guests will receive the discounted rate of 15 per entry (discount applicable
from October to April only, excluding December).
You must supply The Roof Gardens with a guest list prior to arrival. It is also advisable
to register before 5pm on the Friday for both Friday and Saturday. Please show your
membership card at the door, abide by the rules and the dress code (smart/casual) and
get ready for a fantastic night out!!
The nightclub is open Fridays and Saturdays. Email address for registry: club@
roofgardens.virgin.co.uk. The Roof Gardens homepage: www.virgin.com/roofgardens

www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 29
30 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
YOUR BOARD
Cecilia Luras
CHAIR
Cecilia has worked for more
than 20 years in finance/
capital markets in London, Paris,
and Bergen. She holds a Masters degree
from the University of St Andrews and an
undergraduate degree from the University of
Durham. Whilst Cecilia grew up in and around
Oslo, she has spent longer periods in Paris,
Rome, London and Bohusln in Sweden. She
currently lives and works in London. Outside
of work, her interests include photography,
contemporary art and travel.
Christian Armand
Hvamstad
TREASURER
Christian Armand has nearly 15
years experience from financial,
capital markets and private banking in
London and Oslo which has given him an
entrepreneurial flair. He currently lives and
works in London, UK. He holds degrees in
MSc Financial Service Management from
University of Surrey and an undergraduate
degree in Business Administration (BA Hons/
Finance) from the University of Sunderland.
Outside of work Christian enjoys spending
time with his family, travelling, exploring art
exhibitions, playing golf and a wide variety of
other sports.
Irene Garland
BOARD MEMBER
Irene grew up in Oslo, Norway,
but moved to London when
she married. She worked for
the Norwegian Embassy for 18 years doing
various jobs such as Education Officer,
Cultural Officer and Information Officer. She
has a degree in Social Science and taught an
MA at the University of Surrey for 13 years
and she still teaches at the University in Oslo
in addition to running an education charity in
London part time. She has travelled widely
and is interested in history, the theatre and
the arts in general.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Hege Nordahl
BOARD MEMBER
Hege has worked for more
than 16 years as a management
consultant specialising on the
oil and gas industry. She has led multiple
strategic projects internationally and
co-authored numerous reports on the
challenges facing the oil and gas industry.
She holds a BEng (hons) (siv ing) in Materials
Engineering from the University of Newcastle
upon Tyne, and an MBA from SDA Bocconi.
Whilst a student, Hege was a board member
for ANSA UK (93/94) and chair of ANSA
Worldwide (1997-2000). In her spare time,
Hege enjoys skiing, travelling, exploring the
outdoors, training, reading and cooking.
Pauline Houpillart
BOARD MEMBER
Born to a Norwegian mother
and a French father, Pauline
grew up in Paris where she was
involved in the organisation of many cultural
and business events for the Norwegian
community in Paris. Pauline is a graduate in
Visual communication from the Acadmie
Charpentier in Paris and she holds a
Masters degree in Brand development from
Goldsmiths University, London. She has
worked for international branding agencies in
advertsing & packaging and she is now the
creative brand manager for a long established
independent estate agency. Pauline enjoys
reconnecting with her Norwegian roots
in Tjme.
Constanse Bowes-Lyon
BOARD MEMBER
Constanse has spent the
last nine years working and
studying in London, New York,
Washington DC and Bergen. Currently she
works in Executive Search in the energy and
commodities industry. She holds an MA in
International Relations from Kings College
London. Outside of work, Constanse enjoys
travelling, photography, hiking, architecture
and art.
31
 TRY / Fotograf: Nature Picture Library /Johnr
Cool headed Warm hearted.
Banking the Norwegian way.

Nature inuences how cultures develop. Harsh geographical and climatic conditions have forced
Norwegians to act rationally and pragmatic, but also taught us how important it is to have faith
in people, oer a helping hand when needed, and look for opportunities wherever we go.

Our heritage provides the backbone of our business ability to understand the challenges of
safeguarding your international assets. We have the knowledge, the experience and the scale to
manage your wealth across borders, and the strength and capability to handle your individual
needs. Who ever you are, wherever you may be.

Visit us at dnb.no/lu, call +352 45 49 451 or send an email to

privatebanking@dnbgroup.lu for more information.

LUXEMBOURG