Vollen

:(Vollen is also a neighbourhood in the city of Harstad in North Norway)

Vollen is a part of the Asker municipality in Akershus county, Norway. For statistical purposes, it's usually treated as part of the Oslo urban area. It is mainly a residential area, though the area has a café, a restaurant, several art galleries and a primary school and secondary school.

Location

Vollen is situated about 10 km south of the main settlement of Asker. Vollen lies right next to the western coast of the Oslo Fjord. Vollen itself lies around 100 metres above sea level at the top, and right next to the sea at the bottom. Slemmestadveien goes directly through Vollen center.

The Vollen postal code is 1390 and 1391.

Politics

Although the municipality of Asker is traditionally a conservative stronghold, with Høyre having a strong position in the local government, Labour got the most votes in both the 2005 and the 2001 elections. The Progress Party was the second largest party in 2005, recording 22.6% of the votes, while the Conservatives got 19.2%. No other parties had anywhere above 8% in the recent election, though the Socialist Left Party was the fourth-largest party in 2001 with 14.1%. Their decline in 2005 reflected a nation-wide trend. Both in 2001 and 2005, the result of the nation and the results in Vollen were quite similar, although the Conservatives were stronger in Vollen and the Christian People's Party and the Centre Party were weaker.

Infrastructure

The most famous place in Vollen is perhaps the local bakery "Café Oscar", run by the local people.Vollen has also "Mats and Martin" (restaurant), "Galleri Pink" (art gallery), "Hebbe Lilles" (art gallery), and Kroa (a large dock and dining place). There is no local library (the nearest is in Slemmestad, Heggedal or Asker).

The local school, Arnestad barneskole, was built in 1992, and expanded several times. As of June 2006, it had 500 pupils aged from 6 to 13 (first to seventh grade), and does not split the pupils into classes which they keep for the whole seven-year period in the school; instead, they are in working groups which may change from year to year or even more frequently. Arnestad school has almost 80 employees.

The local secondary school, Vollen Ungdomskole, was built in 2001. As of June 2006, it had 379 pupils aged from 13 to 16 (eight to tenth grade), and does not split the pupils into classes which they keep for the whole three-year period in the school; instead, they are in working groups which may change from year to year or even more frequently.

Transport

A boat service ("Hurtigbåten", or "speed boat") operates from the western coast of Oslo to the east coast of the Oslo Fjord. There are also bus services to the centre of Vollen.

Sports

Vollen Ungdomslag (VUL), the local sports club, was founded in 1914. It currently has a football division with junior teams up to the age of 19. The men's football team is a cooperation with Heggedal IL, and currently plays on the fourth highest level of the Norwegian league system.

Vollen is also host to a lot of sailing, especially during the summer.