The European Days of Jewish Culture’s vision promoted by the Jewish Museum Trondheim is to share Jewish cultural heritage and promote diversity in the Trøndelag region. Here’s our encounter with Agnete Eilertsen, curator and collection manager at the museum concerning the festival as well as the city’s Jewish heritage…
Jguideeurope: Will you be organizing any event for the European Days of Jewish Culture?
Agnete Eilertsen: The Jewish Culture Festival Trondheim (JKFest) will take place from September 5 to 7, 2025. This annual festival was first held in 2011 and is formally organized under the auspices of the Jewish Museum Trondheim. It is driven by the dedication of passionate individuals and volunteers from within and around the Jewish community.
The festival’s vision is to share Jewish cultural heritage and promote diversity in the Trøndelag region. JKFest seeks to present a vibrant and diverse Jewish cultural life and to build bridges between minority and majority cultures.
More information about the program and tickets is available at: https://www.jkfest.no/
During the festival—and throughout the year—you are also welcome to visit the Jewish Museum Trondheim, located in the same building as Europe’s northernmost synagogue. For more information about the museum and our offerings, visit: https://www.jodiskmuseum.org/
Do you feel such events help fight the rise of antisemitism in Europe?
Absolutely! Fighting antisemitism is one of the Jewish Museum Trondheim’s most important missions. We believe that a lack of knowledge easily leads to misunderstanding and prejudice. That’s why we are committed to offering accessible cultural experiences where people of all ages and backgrounds can learn about Jewish history and culture.
Which place linked to Trondheim’s Jewish heritage deserves to be better known?
At the northern edge of downtown Trondheim lies a small neighborhood known as Nerbyen, covering just two or three blocks. Before World War II, this area was home to a vibrant Jewish commercial district—so prominent that it is called a “Jewish quarter,” a rare phenomenon in the Norwegian context.
Today, few visible traces remain of this once-thriving community, though small reminders can still be found, such as Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) and an old nameplate on a door. The Jewish Museum Trondheim also runs an ongoing exhibition project in the area, placing small signs in shop windows where Jewish-owned businesses once operated. Each sign shares the story of the shop and the people behind it.