Kvadraturen for children - Norges Bank
Bankplassen 3
This was the scene of a dramatic incident. Infamous thief Ole Høiland pulled off his most spectacular heist here at Norges Bank. Some of his loot was never recovered...
Photo: Tove Solbakken/Byantikvaren
A part of the tour Kvadraturen for children
Norges bank was build in 1828. It had to look solid and strong. The heavy columns make the bank resemble a Greek temple. Do you think it was
Photo: Photo: Severin Worm-Petersen / Oslo Museum
It all happened around New Year 1835. Ole Høiland managed to get through all the seven doors into the deepest vault. He stole 64 000 spesidaler, around 250 000 NKR in today’s currency, such a large sum it was hard to imagine for people back then. Ole Høiland made sure to lock all the doors behind him, so the robbery wouldn’t be detected that easily, then flew into the woods. He split the money and hid them in different spots. Though the police did everything they could, Ole Høiland was on the run for seven weeks before he was captured. 18 000 spesidaler of the stolen money was never recovered….
Photo: Photo: Jens Peter Funch / Oslo Museum
Jens Peter Funch made this drawing of Ole Høiland in 1836.
Ole Høiland was quite a celebrity in the early 1800s. His many burglaries had given him fame all over Norway, and even more so, his varied and spectacular escapes every time he was captured and locked in prison. People could read all about it in the newspapers. Similar handcuffs as the ones we see on this photo might have been used to try to hold on to the cheeky robber, but to no use. On one occasion Ole Høiland managed to break off his leg cuffs and pick open the lock to his cell. Later he tied his sheets together and climbed down from an attic window, movie style. Every time he broke free, he played a game of cat and mouse with the police before he was captured again.
Photo: Photo: Unknown/Justismuseet