14 per cent of holiday houses have more than 500 metres to their neighbour

Published:

The total number of holiday houses in Norway in 2016 was approximately 454 000. Most holiday houses are located in contiguous holiday house areas with less than 500 metres to their neighbour, but every seventh holiday house is outside a holiday house area.

Contiguous holiday house areas are characterised by a larger distance between holiday houses than in the densely built-up areas. Holiday houses can be up to 500 metres apart. 

Figure 1. Densely built-up holiday house areas by size categories. Country. Km². 2016

Per cent
Scatteredholiday houses (40%) 260 km² 40
Small size holiday house area (5-24 holiday houses) (27%) 179 km² 27
Medium size holiday house area (25-49 holiday houses) (11%) 70 km² 11
Large size holiday house area (50 or more holiday houses) (22%) 146 km² 22

More than half in large holiday house areas

Holiday house areas are divided into size categories and 55 per cent of all holiday houses are in large holiday house areas with 50 holiday houses or more. Thirty-one per cent are located in small holiday house areas with 5 to 49 holiday houses. Only 14 per cent of all holiday houses are situated outside contiguous holiday house areas, where they are more than 500 metres apart. 

Largest contiguous areas along the Oslofjord

There are slightly fewer than 12 000 contiguous areas, each of which consists of at least 5 holiday houses. These areas cover 3 550 km2, of which 2 100 km2 are covered by large holiday house areas with 50 or more holiday houses. 

Unlike the densely built-up holiday house areas, the largest contiguous holiday house areas are not situated in the mountains, but along the coast. The holiday house area along the coast of Kragerø, in the south of Norway, is the largest, with 26 km2. Other large holiday house areas along the coast are in Tjøme and Nøtterøy municipalities and on the island of Vesterøy in Hvaler municipality.

Contact