That this memorial to the terror attacks on the 22nd of July 2011 is called a “learning center” tells you so much about how Norway has dealt with this terrible event. According to the aims of the center knowledge is our most powerful tool against hate, violence and extremism and they want to inform about what happened in a sensitive way with respect for the victims and their families.

The center is located in the Government quarter, in the actual building that was bombed and they make no attempt to polish what happened there: the windows are boarded up and there are giant cracks in the walls. Through actual CCTV footage, photos, text messages between victims and their families they tell the story of both the bombing of government buildings and the attack on Utøya. They also have a room containing pictures of each person killed and it is heartbreaking to see all the young faces that lost their lives that day and the text messages they sent to their friends and family while hiding from the gunman.

This isn’t a tourist spot or a local spot, but a profoundly humbling place to visit that will make you appreciate even more Oslo’s openness.