# Vaksdal

Vaksdal is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordhordland. The administrative centre is the village of Dalekvam. Other villages in Vaksdal include Dalegarden, Flatkvål, Helle, Nesheim, Stamneshella, Stanghelle, and Vaksdal.
The 715-square-kilometre (276 sq mi) municipality is the 160th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vaksdal is the 206th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,875. The municipality's population density is 5.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.2% over the previous 10-year period.
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Solund be closed.

## General information

The municipality of Vaksdal was created on 1 January 1964 after a major municipal restructuring after the Schei Committee's recommendations. Vaksdal was formed from the following places:
* All of Bruvik municipality, except for the Bruvikbygda area on Osterøy island (population: 5,264)
* The Bergsdalen and Eksingedalen valleys from the municipality of Evanger (population: 251)
* The rest of the Eksingedalen valley that was located in the municipality of Modalen (population: 151)

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the village of Vaksdal (Old Norse: Vágsdalr), one of the main villages in the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of the word vágr which means "bay" or "inlet". The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". Alternately, the first part of the name could be derived from a local river name spelled Vaxa or Veksa which would mean the valley of the river Vaxa/Veksa.

### Coat of arms

On 1 January 1964, the new municipality of Vaksdal was established upon the merger of Bruvik municipality with some neighboring areas. The old coat of arms for Bruvik Municipality was carried over to the new municipality. Bruvik's arms were granted on 14 December 1960, just a few years earlier, and they were in use until 16 November 1990 when a new design was approved. The blazon for the old arms was "Azure, a chevron over a cogwheel argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a cogwheel with a chevron shape above it. The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design was chosen to symbolize the importance of industry in the municipality. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.
A new coat of arms was granted on 16 November 1990 to replace the old arms. The official blazon is "Or, three shuttles sable palewise two and one" (Norwegian: På gul grunn tre opprette svarte skytlar). This means the arms have a field (background) has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The charge is a set of three shuttles for weaving that are lined up vertically. The shuttles were chosen to represent the past and present textile industry of the municipality. The Dale of Norway company is based here and it is an international company renowned for its wool sweaters. The arms were designed by Charles Lunde, a graphic designer who based the design on an idea by the local artist E. Eriksen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has six parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vaksdal. It is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Churches in Vaksdal :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Bergsdalen | Bergsdalen Church | Bergsdalen | 1955 |
| Dale | Dale Church | Dalekvam | 1956 |
| Eksingedal | Eksingedal Church | Flatkvål | 1883 |
| Nesheim | Nesheim Church | Nesheim | 1908 |
| Stamnes | Stamnes Church | Stamneshella | 1861 |
| Vaksdal | Vaksdal Church | Vaksdal | 1933 |

## Geography

The municipality is mountainous, and stretches along both sides of the Veafjorden with adjacent valleys. It includes part of the island Osterøy. The Kallestadsundet Bridge connects the mainland of Vaksdal to the island of Osterøy. In the north, it includes the valleys of Eksingedalen and Bergsdalen, with its borders extending into the mountains. Major lakes in the municipality include Askjelldalsvatnet and Skjerjavatnet.
The main centers of population are Dale (pop. 1174), Vaksdal (pop. 957), and Stanghelle (pop. 767). Dale and Vaksdal are industrial villages that arose around factories utilising the hydro-electric power resources provided by the mountainous terrain and rainy climate. The Bergensbanen railway line between Norway's two largest cities Oslo and Bergen, and the main road between the same two cities, European route E16, run through Vaksdal municipality. The Bergensbanen railway line has the following stations in Vaksdal: Bogegrend Station, Dale Station, Stanghelle Station, and Vaksdal Station

## History

Vaksdal was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964 after the merger of parts of Bruvik, Evanger, and Modalen municipalities.
During the German invasion of Norway during World War II, from 19 April to 24 April, there was heavy fighting within the borders of the present municipality, with German forces advancing along the railway line from Bergen towards Voss. The heaviest fighting was for the village of Vaksdal itself, from 19 to 23 April. Further fighting took place at Stanghelle and Dalseid on 23 and 24 April. Three Norwegian soldiers and one civilian, and a larger, but unknown, number of German soldiers fell in Vaksdal.

## Population

Historical population :
| Year | 1964 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2023 |
| Pop. | 5,666 | 5,498 | 4,851 | 4,519 | 4,192 | 4,107 | 3,977 | 3,875 |
| ±% p.a. | — | −0.50% | −1.24% | −0.71% | −0.75% | −0.20% | −0.32% | −0.86% |
| Source: Statistics Norway |||||||||

## Government

Vaksdal Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vaksdal is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Red Party (Raudt) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local list for Stamnes/Eidsland (Bygdalista for Stamnes/Eidsland) | 2 |
| | Local list for Vaksdal (Bygdelista for Vaksdal) | 3 |
| | Unity and Development List (Samling og Utvikling) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local list for Stamnes/Eidsland (Bygdalista for Stamnes/Eidsland) | 4 |
| | Environment and development list (Miljø og utvikling liste) | 1 |
| | Independent Common List (Uavhengig samlingsliste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Local list for Stamnes (Bygdalista for Stamnes) | 2 |
| | Independent Common List (Uavhengig samlingsliste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 12 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Local list for Stamnes (Bygdalista for Stamnes) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 17 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 17 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 17 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |
Vaksdal kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 18 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |

### Mayor

The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Vaksdal (incomplete list):
* 1999–2007: Øivind Olsnes (H)
* 2007–2019: Eirik Haga (Ap)
* 2019–present: Hege Eide Vik (Sp)

## Notable people

* Harald Langhelle (1890 in Dale – executed 1942), a newspaper editor, politician, and Norwegian resistance member
* Bjørn Wiik (1937 in Bruvik - 1999), a Norwegian elementary particle physicist
* Sjur Olsnes (1939–2014), a Norwegian biochemist and academic who grew up in Vaksdal
* Helén Eriksen (born 1971 in Dale), a jazz musician (saxophone and vocals), songwriter, and music arranger
* Trond Egil Soltvedt(Born 1967 in Stanghelle), a former professional football player for English Premier League clubs
* Frida Amundsen (born 1992 in Vaksdal), a Norwegian singer and songwriter