To this day, Hydrostranda is a popular holiday center during the summer season among Hydro employees and day visitors alike, who are attracted by one of the best beaches in the area and a coastal trail running through the entire area.
High up in the mountains
Now that the employees had been provided with a holiday centre by the sea, the company looked into acquiring cabins in the mountains. The first mountain cabins were ready for use at the end of the fifties. These are situated at Frøystul, which is 870 meters over sea level, and less than half an hour's drive from Rjukan. The site now has close to 40 cabins that can be used all year round.
In connection with its 75th anniversary in 1980, Hydro set up another holiday centre in the Telemark mountains at Arbuvollen near Haukeli. The area now has 26 cabins.
The offer is extended
The development of the oil and gas operations in the west of Norway and the merger with Årdal Sunndal Verk resulted in Hydro setting up additional holiday centres for employees. In 1991, Hydrotun was established at Beitostølen in the county of Oppland. Even more cabins were established throughout the 2000s in line with Hydro expanding its business in different parts of Norway.
7,000 members
The holiday cabins – both by the sea and in the mountains – have always been popular and offer a range of recreational activities. Today more than 7,000 employees and retired personnel are members of Hydro's holiday cabin organization. In the most popular periods such as Easter and the summer holiday, demand usually exceeds availability, so that cabins are allotted on application according to seniority of membership.
Updated: August 20, 2020
