Sentrum in Oslo, Norway — Northern Europe (a Nordic Country in Scandinavia)

Bilimportør
⎯⎯⎯
Car Importer

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 26, 2025

1. Bilimportør / Car Importer Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Norges eldste bilimportør
Bertel O. Steen AS startet her 1901 og bilimport fra 1907
Bilparken i landet telte da 75 biler
Første bil i Norge 1895

Norway's oldest car importer, Bertel O. Steen AS started here in 1901 and imported cars from 1907. The car fleet in the country then numbered 75 cars. First car in Norway 1895.

Erected by Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 59° 54.589′ N, 10° 44.592′ E. Marker is in Oslo. It is in Sentrum. It is on Kirkegata north of Rådhusgata, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Kirkegata 9, Oslo 0153, Norway. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

on the Atlantic Arc,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

in Scandinavia,

in the Nordic Countries,

in the Schengen Area,

and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: Stattholdergården / Governor’s Manor (within shouting distance of this marker); Stiftsgården (within shouting distance of this marker); Collettgården / Collett Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Sigurd Emil Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); Vebjørn Tandberg (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tollbodgaten 19 (about 90 meters away); Niels Wulfsberg (1755-1852) (about 90 meters away); Oratoriekoret Cæciliaforeningen / The Cecilia Society Chorus (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oslo.

Also see . . . Bilimportør (Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel, in Norwegian). Excerpt (in translation):

Almost all Norwegian car importers and dealers were located in the area around Rådhusgaten. The only pioneer that still exists as a car importer is Bertel O. Steen A/S. The company started as a wholesaler in hardware on January 5, 1901 at Kirkegaten 9. The company also had a wine agency. The rent for 50 square meters of office space on the 2nd floor was NOK 50 per month. In 1908, the lease was extended to include the retail space
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 26, 2025

2. Bilimportør / Car Importer Marker - wide view
on the 1st floor. In 1915, the State bought the building, and Steen moved to the first of his properties in Parkveien – “Rett opp Wergelandsveien” as it was called in the advertisements. In Kirkegaten, Bertel O. Steen sold over 200 new cars and was Kristiania’s leading car importer.

(Submitted on July 10, 2025.)

Additional keywords. blå skilt

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

Bilimportør⎯⎯⎯Car Importer

Bilimportør
⎯⎯⎯
Car Importer