Halden through history – from sawmill town to cultural city
17th century – Sawmill operations along the Tista River and timber export laid the foundation for the establishment of the trading town of Halden. The timber and paper industries still play a significant role in Halden.
1658 – Treaty of Roskilde. Bohuslän is ceded to Sweden, and Halden becomes Denmark-Norway’s border town against Sweden.
1658–1660 – The Swedes attack Halden and Fredriksten Fortress three times without success.
1660 – On 28 July 1660, King Frederick III signs the decision to build a fortress in Halden, which will be named Fredriksten.
1661–1701 – First construction period of Fredriksten Fortress.
1665 – Halden is granted city status as thanks for helping defend the country. The words “God with us” become part of the city’s coat of arms. Halden is renamed Fredrikshald.
1716 – Charles XII conquers Fredrikshald and attacks Fredriksten Fortress on the night of 4 July. He fails to capture the fortress. When Tordenskjold sinks the Swedish supply fleet in Dynekilen, Charles XII must retreat. The residents of Halden set fire to their town to drive out Charles XII and his soldiers.
1718 – Charles XII besieges Fredriksten Fortress. He storms Gyldenløve Fort and digs trenches closer and closer to the main fortress from the north. On the evening of 11 December, the king is struck by a bullet that goes straight through his head.
1813 – Halden Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mill is founded by Mads Wiel, Norway’s first mechanical industrial company. He petitions the Danish-Norwegian king for permission: “…I ask for the privilege to establish a cotton manufactory which can employ a good number of children and women.”
1814 – Denmark must cede Norway to Sweden. Halden is captured by the Swedes and the fortress is bombarded with heavy artillery. Fredriksten continues to hold off the enemy as always.
1815 – The cotton spinning mill building is erected. Machines are installed, and on 12 October the first cotton bale arrives at the mill. Production is underway. The factory operates continuously until 1971, at its peak employing 400 people.
1840s – The granite adventure begins in Idd, Halden. The stone industry becomes significant for Halden over the next 100 years. Iddefjord granite is in high demand and shipped worldwide.
1859 – Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson writes “Ja, vi elsker”, and includes Halden – the only city – in the national anthem. Out of respect for the town’s resistance to Swedish forces in 1716, the fourth verse ends: “Rather we burned the land than let it fall; remember only what happened down in Fredrikshald!”
1875 – From the late 16th century to the early 20th century, Fredrikshald becomes an important shipping town. In 1875, the city reaches its peak with 133 ships and a total crew of 1,200 men.
1890s – The first shoe factories are established in Halden. At its height, Halden had 17 companies operating simultaneously. In the 1950s and 1960s, Halden is known as Norway’s shoe capital.
1905 – On 7 June, Norway declares unilateral independence from Sweden. Negotiations and conditions are tough, and thousands of soldiers are mobilized on both sides of the border in September. Fortunately, a peaceful solution is reached.
1926 – The raw material for the Monolith (now in Vigeland Park) is quarried from a 270-ton granite block and transported from Iddefjorden to Bestumkilen.
1928 – The city changes its name from Fredrikshald back to Halden.
1940–1945 – Norway is occupied by Germany. Extensive use of border guides facilitates refugee traffic in Halden.
1946 – The Svinesund granite bridge is inaugurated – a strategic and important border crossing. Built with labor from both sides of the border, it is considered Europe’s most beautiful border crossing. In the middle of the bridge, one can stand with one foot in each country – 67 meters above Norway’s only Westland fjord!
2005 – The Svinesund granite bridge is protected. The new Svinesund bridge opens. E6 is moved from the old to the new bridge, and all vehicles over 3,500 kg are directed to the new crossing. The granite bridge is later expanded with wider walkways on each side.
2011 – Fortress anniversary – Fredriksten 350 years. The city and fortress celebrate the anniversary from the first forts in 1661 through the construction of the large defense and fortress complex to today’s cultural arena.
2014 – Constitution anniversary. Halden marks its participation in the battles between Norwegians and Swedes in the weeks before the Mosse Convention on 14 August 1814.
2015 – City anniversary. Halden celebrates 350 years since it received city rights (trading town status) from King Christian Fredrik on 10 April 1665.
