Oslo Badstuforening

What Oslo Badstuforening does

Oslo Badstuforening is a Norwegian non-profit voluntary association (forening) founded in 2016 that operates a network of 22 saunas across 7 locations in Oslo, including floating sauna villages at Sukkerbiten (13 saunas) and Langkaia (6 saunas), as well as land-based locations at Kroloftet, Hvervenbukta, Grefsenkollen, Sagene Folkebad, and Folk i Storgata. The association was founded by anarchists and diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' ice bathing club and started with a single driftwood-built sauna raft called Måken in Bjørvika. By 2022, the association had grown to ~180,000 annual visits, supported by approximately 58 employees (36 FTE) and an extensive volunteer base organized into committees including Queer Sauna Crew, Fjordgruppa, and Oslo Badstukor (sauna choir). The association combines traditional Norwegian bathing culture with innovative environmental projects, including mussel reef installations (approximately 1,000 meters of rope beneath floating saunas, potentially filtering 8 million liters of fjord water daily), an underwater botanical garden (Oslo Badebotaniske), and automated trash collection units (PortBin).

The association operates a diversified revenue model spanning per-session tickets (150 NOK member / 260 NOK non-member for shared sauna), private sauna bookings (800-9,200 NOK depending on capacity and location), guided sauna rituals (315-500 NOK), gift certificates (260-5,000 NOK), an annual membership (400 NOK), and monthly (600 NOK) and annual (6,000 NOK) subscription passes. Customer segments include individual consumers, tourists, students (Student Thursday), senior citizens (DNT collaboration), the LGBTQ+ community (monthly Queer Sauna Sessions), families, and corporate group bookings. The go-to-market approach is product-led and community-driven, with self-serve booking through minside.periode.no, organic social media, and extensive earned media coverage — including Time Magazine's World's 100 Greatest Places 2025 and a finalist position for Oslo Architecture Prize 2025 (Sukkerbiten). Distribution is exclusively domestic (Oslo, Norway), with partnerships spanning research organizations (NIVA, Urban Ocean), cultural institutions (Karmaklubb*, DNT, Leela Yoga), architectural firms (Estudio Herreros), and multiple public and private financial supporters (Oslo kommune, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, Eckbos Legat, Hurtigruten Foundation).

Name

Oslo Badstuforening

Legal name

Oslo Badstuforening

Website

https://oslobadstuforening.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oslo Badstuforening is a Norwegian non-profit association founded in 2016 that operates 22 saunas across 7 locations in Oslo, serving individual consumers, tourists, and community groups through memberships, subscriptions, and per-session bookings, with embedded environmental restoration projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sauna and Bathing Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermal Baths, Hot Springs & Saunas (Onsen, Hammams, Banya, Sauna Worlds) (THAJAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sauna & Steam Bath Facilities (HSADAKAC), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Public sauna services
• Private sauna bookings
• Sauna rituals
• Floating saunas
• Fjord bathing

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership costs 400 NOK per calendar year (2026). Members receive discounted rates on shared sauna (150 NOK vs 260 NOK), private bookings (300-400 NOK discount), and monthly passes. Membership grants voting rights at annual meetings and access to volunteer activities.
2. Monthly Pass Subscription: Monthly pass subscription at 600 NOK per month. Allows daily access to shared sauna across all locations, including Sagene Folkebad pool. Requires membership. Auto-renews monthly with 3-month notice period.
3. Annual Pass: Annual pass at 6000 NOK (equivalent to monthly pass x 10). Auto-expires after one year. Requires membership.
4. Shared Sauna (Fellesbadstue) Single Tickets: Single shared sauna tickets: 150 NOK for members, 260 NOK for non-members, 95 NOK for children under 14. Ticket valid for 1.5 hours including 15-minute transition time. Open 7 days a week.
5. Private Sauna Bookings: Private sauna bookings at varying price points from 800 NOK (Tare, 4-person member) to 7200/9200 NOK (Sagene Folkebad with/without pool). Prices differ by location, capacity, and member status. Includes alcohol permits at some locations.
6. Sauna Rituals: Guided sauna rituals including herbal rituals, meditation, singing rituals, Pirtis (Baltic ritual), moon rituals, and sauna choir sessions. Priced at 315 NOK member/440 NOK non-member for 90 min, 400/500 NOK for 120 min.
7. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates available from 260 NOK to 5000 NOK, valid for shared sauna and private bookings. Also available for membership. Valid for one year from purchase date.
8. Fjord Cruises: Shared fjord cruises on the sauna boat departing from Sukkerbiten, combining floating sauna experience with fjord tours.
9. Food and Beverage (Sagene Folkebad): Coffee and tea service on weekdays from 6:30-10 at Sagene Folkebad (33 NOK). Sagene also offers yoga and sauna combination sessions in collaboration with Leela Yoga.
10. Food and Beverage (Kruttverket bar): Bar and café at Kroloftet location with alcohol license. Alcohol purchased at the bar can be consumed at saunas (Svarttrosten and Jurten). Not permitted at other locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Oslo Badstuforening is a non-profit community association that operates 22 saunas across 7 floating and land-based locations in Oslo, providing shared sauna sessions, private sauna bookings, guided sauna rituals, fjord cruises, and community events to the public. Its mission 'Badstue til folket!' (Sauna for the people!) emphasizes broad community access through membership (400 NOK/year), monthly passes (600 NOK), and pay-as-you-go tickets (150-260 NOK). Beyond bathing, the association runs environmental projects including mussel farming and underwater gardens that filter Oslofjord water.

Product overview

Oslo Badstuforening operates a portfolio of sauna and bathing services across multiple floating and land-based locations in Oslo. The core offering consists of Fellesbadstue (shared sauna sessions), Privat badstue (private sauna bookings), and Badsturitualer (guided sauna rituals). Supporting services include Fjordcruise (floating boat sauna tours), Queer Sauna Sessions (LGBTQI+ events), SUP activities, and Festivalbadstue (festival sauna). The association also offers membership and subscription programs (Månedskort), gift certificates, and various locations including Sukkerbiten, Langkaia, Kroloftet, Hvervenbukta, Grefsenkollen, Sagene Folkebad, and Folk i Storgata with over 20 distinct sauna structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Queer Sauna Sessions: Monthly sauna event for LGBTQI+ community, organized by volunteer group Queer Sauna Crew in collaboration with Karmaklubb*
• Sauna Rituals
• Oslo Badebotaniske

Products and services

• Fellesbadstue (Shared Sauna) Public shared sauna sessions available daily from 7 to 23, where visitors experience communal sauna bathing with other guests. Ticket valid for 1.5 hours including 15-minute transition time. Priced at 150 NOK for members, 260 NOK for non-members, and 95 NOK for children under 14. Open 7 days a week across all locations.
• Privat badstue (Private Sauna) Exclusive private sauna bookings for groups at multiple locations with capacities from 4 to 42 persons, offering personalized sauna experiences with alcohol permitted in moderate amounts at some locations. Prices range from 800 NOK (Tare, 4-person member) to 9,200 NOK (Sagene Folkebad with pool, 42-person).
• Badsturitualer (Sauna Rituals) Guided sauna sessions featuring elements such as herbs, aromatherapy, meditation, stretching, and birch whisking (bjørkeris), led by trained ritual masters at various locations. Priced at 315/440 NOK (member/non-member) for 90 minutes and 400/500 NOK for 120 minutes.
• Fjordcruise (Fjord Tour) Sauna experience aboard a boat, combining floating sauna bathing with fjord tours departing from Sukkerbiten, providing a unique on-water bathing experience on the Oslofjord.
• Queer Sauna Sessions Monthly LGBTQI+ sauna events hosted by the volunteer group Queer Sauna Crew in collaboration with Karmaklubb*, featuring local and international DJs and drag performances. Created to provide a safe, inclusive space for the queer community.
• Medlemskap (Annual Membership) Annual membership providing access to reduced rates on all sauna experiences (150 NOK shared sauna vs 260 NOK non-member), voting rights at annual general meetings, invitations to events, and the ability to participate in volunteer activities. Members receive 300-400 NOK discount on private bookings.
• Månedskort (Monthly Pass) Subscription-based unlimited sauna access for 600 NOK per month, allowing daily visits to shared sauna across all locations including the pool at Sagene Folkebad. Booking available up to 21 days in advance, auto-renews monthly with 3-month notice period. Requires membership.
• Gavekort (Gift Certificates) Gift vouchers available in amounts from 260 NOK to 5,000 NOK, valid for shared or private sauna bookings, or for membership purchases. Valid for one year from purchase date.
• Student-torsdag (Student Thursday) Reduced-price sauna sessions for students held every Thursday at the Langkaia floating sauna location, providing affordable access to sauna culture for younger demographics.
• Festivalbadstue (Festival Sauna) Sauna services offered at various festivals throughout Norway, bringing mobile sauna units to festival grounds as part of the association's five-mobile-sauna fleet.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 million liters of water filtered per day through mussel reefs, equating to ~2.9 billion liters annually (equivalent to shower needs of ~50,000 Oslo residents)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Transborder StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborated on the Oslo Badebotaniske (Oslo Bath Botanical) underwater garden project at Sukkerbiten. Transborder Studio provided the design illustration for the pilot project grid system for growing eelgrass, kelp, and other marine plants.
• NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partner for Oslo Badebotaniske underwater garden project. NIVA planted eelgrass from a donor meadow at Gressholmen into the grid system in July 2025 and is monitoring the results as part of the nature restoration research project.
• Karmaklubb*coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Karmaklubb* collaborates with Oslo Badstuforening on Queer Sauna Sessions, a monthly event for LHBTQI+ individuals. Since the event's launch in December 2023, Karmaklubb* has co-organized events featuring drag performances, international DJs, and live interviews in the sauna.
• Urban OceancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on mussel reef project (Blåskjellrev) where mussel ropes are hung beneath floating saunas to filter Oslofjord water. Urban Ocean's largest installation to date at ~1000 meters of rope across Sukkerbiten and Langkaia.
• DNT (Den Norske Turistforening / Norwegian Trekking Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on monthly Seniorbadstue (Senior Sauna) program for active seniors to safely experience sauna and ice bathing at Sukkerbiten. Two volunteers from each organization co-host the monthly events during autumn to spring seasons.
• Estudio HerreroscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm that designed Trosten, Norway's first universally accessible floating sauna. The architects also designed the adjacent Munch Museum, creating a coherent cultural waterfront identity at Sukkerbiten.
• Leela YogaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga studio collaboration at Sagene Folkebad offering combined yoga and sauna sessions. Classes are held in one of the historic bath's rooms, followed by sauna and pool access.
• Frivillighet Norge, Bad, Park og Idrett, and VirkeminorOthersOslo Badstuforening is a member of Frivillighet Norge, Bad Park og Idrett, and Virke. Registered in the Volunteer Register (Frivillighetsregisteret) and on the Grasrotandelen to Norsk Tipping.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Löyly Helsinki: Public floating sauna and restaurant complex in Helsinki, Finland. Directly comparable as a Nordic floating public sauna venue combining wellness, hospitality, and waterfront environmental positioning.
• The Reykjavík Baths (Sundhöllin): Historic Reykjavík public bathhouse with geothermal pools and saunas serving residents and tourists. Comparable Nordic public bathhouse with single-visit and membership pricing and event programming.
• Allmanna Badet: Historic public bathhouse in Gothenburg, Sweden, offering saunas, cold baths, and wellness programming. Closely comparable Nordic public bathhouse model with membership/single-visit pricing and event-driven programming.
• SALT (Art & Music): Norwegian sauna-led art and music venue combining floating saunas with cultural programming. Comparable as a Norwegian operator blending sauna experiences with community/cultural events and volunteer engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Therme Group: Large-scale wellness destination operator (Therme Bucharest, Therme Manchester, etc.). Comparable as a developer/operator of urban wellness and thermal bathing facilities with environmental and architectural positioning.
• AIRE Ancient Baths: Premium bathhouse operator with locations in New York, Chicago, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and London. Comparable as a thermal/wellness venue operator targeting the same experiential wellness tourist segment, though broader geographic and commercial scale.

Emerging players

• Sauna From Finland: Finnish network promoting authentic sauna culture internationally and consulting on sauna experience development. Comparable as an organization exporting Nordic sauna experience and methodology, with potential partnership/franchise overlap.
• Sweat Sauna Studios: Multi-location infrared and traditional sauna studio chain. Comparable as a multi-site sauna operator using membership and subscription pricing, though focused on studio-format rather than waterfront/cultural experiences.

Others

• Den Norske Turistforening (DNT): Norwegian Trekking Association and existing partner of Oslo Badstuforening on the Seniorbadstue program. Comparable as a non-profit membership-based outdoor/wellness organization serving Norwegian residents with similar community-volunteer governance.

Regional players

• Caldarium Hot Springs: Norwegian hot springs/spa facility offering geothermal bathing and wellness experiences. Comparable Norwegian thermal bathing operator, though more rural/upscale positioning versus Oslo Badstuforening's urban/community model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oslobadstuforening
• Instagraminstagram.com/oslobadstuforening
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oslo-badstuforening

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oslo Badstuforening