Hølen

Hølen is a former town and municipality in Akershus county, Norway.

Hølen was in early times known for the production of timber, and from the 17th century important trade took place. Timber was floated on the river Såna. Shps from Netherlands visited the place.

The small town of Hølen was, together with the small town of Son, established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Son and Hølen were separated as municipalities of their own January 1, 1848. Hølen was merged with the rural municipality Vestby July 1, 1943 – and it then lost its status as a town.

Hølen is the smallest municipality (in area) that has ever existed in Norway – the total area was just 0.12 km².

Name origins

Hølen is the finite form of høl m 'pool' (in a river).

Coordinates: 59°32′N 10°44′E / 59.533°N 10.733°E / 59.533; 10.733