Found out about this spot on Instagram! I was interested in seeing the Olle bolle troll. It's located right in Beaverton in an unassuming spot. It's hidden away in the between the trees. On the driveway, is the olle bolle sign. There's the contemporary museum, about heritage and history on countries in the Arctic circle. Right in front, is the map of the museum campus (not to scale). We headed towards the olle bolle. There is quite a few people walking around, enjoying the scenery and taking a look at the exhibit. There are red houses around and a Sweden house . It was giving Midsommar vibes. We didn't have to walk too far when we spotted the troll. It was huge! It was a beautiful sculpture. There was sign, explaining the artist and his work all around the world. The trolls are made out of recyclable materials. It is very impressive and very admirable. This is a great spot to hang out, learn about history, and for a photo op. There is a restaurant/cafeteria with food from the culture. So beautiful and being here is a good start of the autumnal season. It was such a good experience! read more

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Very peaceful setting on a Thursday morning. The troll was lifting up a roof side to check for yummy things within "the red cookie jar". Came for the nature trail and the nature troll, saw the restaurant from the outside path. Went inside and took a couple danishes fresh from the oven back to the picnic tables to eat and listen to all the birds. Just lovely. read more

Nordic Northwest - Troll checking out the inside of the "red cookie jar". - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Always a treat to pop into the Nordic Northwest compound, as it usually serves up some good architectural vibes, a hit of natural scenery and a couple of shots of whimsy -- all necessary things in my day to day. The modern Scandi design at the Nordia building is very cool, and ya gotta love the Ole Bolle Troll sculpture and the surrounding area. A couple of small trails wind around the green, wooded grounds and it's all free to visit. There's a restaurant onsite too (separate post). read more

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What a fun place to spend an afternoon! If you're coming to eat at Broder Soder, I recommend putting your name in at the cafe podium first, then walking around the Nordia House, including the gift shop and museum, then walk outside and stroll down the Ole Bolle trail and visit the magnificent troll created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. It's quite a sight to see! His eyes watch you as you walk around him and the little house he's peeking into. There is no admission fee to go see the troll. The parking lot can get pretty full, and there is additional parking in gravel and sawdust attached. We had lunch at Soder Broder during our visit and both service and food was wonderful. The wait time for a table was around an hour on a Sunday at noon. Once we were seated, our order was taken quickly and the food came out promptly as well. Everything was so yummy! We ordered the Danish pancakes, Swedish meatballs, and Norwegian crepes (lefse). We enjoyed every bite. The prices are pretty comparable to most brunch spots. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and look forward to coming back. Highly recommend! read more

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Such a fun place to spend part of your day! I had lunch here before heading to Salem. The pancake balls were much bigger than I expected, so I'm glad I only got the 4 piece. It came with a side of lemon curd and lingonberry sauce which were great toppings. The pancake itself is more dense and not super sweet, which I like. I had the trout cake benedict and it was so delicious. I would get this again in a heartbeat! read more

Nordic Northwest - Pancake balls - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This Scandinavian cultural center is for everyone! Inside is a small museum where you can learn about the Scandinavian heritage, a photography exhibit, a small gift shop, and Broder Soder cafe. The grounds are beautiful! To the right of the center is the Troll Path that takes you to fabulous Ole Bolle, the ginormous troll created by artist Thomas Dambo. Made out of recycled wood, Ole Bolle is peering into the window of a tiny Nordic cabin. You can view this whimsical creation from outside and inside from the windows. Ole Bolle is worth the ride! The grounds have several other little cabins plus the owners residence, all immaculately maintained in a lush green setting, surrounded by massive fir trees, the red Nordic colors popping. Back in the center, which has a simplistic Scandinavian design with lots of white walls, warm woods, and a pair of gorgeous wood carved front doors, it's very inviting. As you enter, the cafe is straight ahead, the aroma of delicious food greets you immediately. Most definitely stay for brunch, lunch or coffee. The waits can be long so get there early. The gift shop to the left has lots of Scandinavian offerings like licorice, chocolate, coffee mugs and other trinkets. My favorite are the beautiful, vibrant dish towels and cocktail napkins by artist Marimekko. I'm in love with the simplistic, cheerful designs. The cocktail napkins are a great way to add a pop of color to a tablescape. And of course there are trolls! Stuffed animals, figurines, children books and more! Nordic Northwest is a fun spot for a family outing or a brunch with friends. They also host events like the Oregon Midsummer Festival which will be held on June 28 & 29th this year (2024.) read more

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I love going to events here! I always have such a great time and the volunteers are so friendly and helpful when I have questions. I have Norwegian heritage/ancestry, and it's awesome to know I have a community so close to home. I go to Viking beer fest, midsummer festival, scanfair, and I've eaten at broder soder a few times, it's always awesome to see ole bolle troll. Nordia house is also so beautiful! I would love to become a member someday. read more

Great place for wedding venue and see the troll.. after you eat at Nordic house fine dinning..

Clean, sleek and well-designed. Everything from the landscaping, forested areas with well-maintained paths and trails, to the lawns, and even the outdoor cafe seating, were beautiful, thoughtful and warmly welcoming. Interiors were simple, minimalist, informative and clean. We enjoyed learning about the saunas and cold plunges. We were enticed by the cafe, and had fun with the scavenger hunt. It was a Dambo Troll, Ole Bolle that brought us to Nordic Northwest, but we left so happy to have come across this little gem in the woods on the outskirts of Portland (Tigard). read more

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I do NOT believe that I have driven past this ADORABLE and beautifully well kept local treasure. We intially went to see the Troll Ollebolle, and ended up perusing the garden at Nordic House. That led us to the resident of this incredible property. We then got to talk to him, and he was VERY kind and informative and we plan to come back for some of the free events they host!! Ollebolle was EVERYTHING and more. What an amazing work of art!! Ironically, my cousin in CO let me know about him. I had NO idea about these cool Troll installations, but she has one nearby where she lives in CO and knew of this one near Portland. I said well, I'll see if it's close by and YES it's SO close to us!!! So we took our kids one evening and they loved Ollebolle AND Nordic House. Talk about value, it's free and so very neat. Get out and check it out!!! read more

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We went there for Mother's day Brunch. The food was pretty good overall. My complaint. It was a buffet style service. The line as soon as the buffet opened was very long so as my family went up, I remained at the table outside (which is a lovely setting) sipping on my coffee. I'm sure I was one of the last customers in and noticed a fair amount of the items listed were empty and was told, they would be replenished soon. I went back to the table and ate what I had as I could go back when they refilled. The second time I went back, which by this time, most of the original line had gone twice and a few people were probably going for final third round of desserts. I noticed there was even less out this time. A serving person was bringing out a new tray of eggs and some of their meatballs and so I waited for them to finish and at this time I was informed " this is not for your group it is for the next dinning groups with reservations." I never tasted some of the items on the menu, I guess because I was last in line? I guess the lesson learned if you go here is don't sit back and be the final person in line. We did have a server, typically at a buffet they will keep track of clearing plates and glasses from your table so as not to reuse plates. We bussed our own table as no one did that and our table was small and getting full of used plates therefore, we managed to find a garbage and buss our own table. It was a beautiful setting, but I do not feel, based on my experience, I will return. Thank you. read more

While visiting the troll I went into the facility to see a cute the Christmas decor and wait to eat at the onsite restaurant. Each display has a an interesting story telling the history of the item. From nomes to grass lambs. Take time and read each because it's interesting and cool. There is a small gift store inside selling cards, trinkets, custom food and much more. Various price points and good values of you are looking for a gift. Clean restrooms inside facility also. Fun and cute spot. SYOP. read more

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If you're out this way, you should definitely stop. Nice little quiet place not far from the craziness of Washington Square area. One of the great parts is that it is free to the public, although a little donation at least would be nice. read more

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We loved our first visit to Nordic Northwest, and it won't be our last! We were in Portland for a day and wanted to shop at Finn Ware since we love the Astoria location so much. We were quite pleased to discover our favorite shop was located at this magical place! They have rotating exhibits and we so enjoyed the sauna display, as we are big fans of the sauna experience. We loved the big wooden troll, little trolls all over, and the buildings. Our brunch was delightful and we had a tough time choosing what to order! Of course we had to get aebleskivers, which were delicious. The breads, soup, and salads were all amazing, too, and our server was fun and professional with a fantastic beaded bow tie. This was such a memorable experience and we can't wait to go back! read more

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Great place to explore and learn and let the kiddos run around too! Also, Thomas Dambo's Oregon troll is there too!!

Authentic Nordic activities. Restaurant, games, community center it has it all! Also home To Thomas Dambo's new Troll. It's a great place to spend an afternoon. read more

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Checking into the restaurant inside Nordia House but with the wait this house has so much to offer! A church on Sundays, a gift shop, cultural center, restaurant, and community event space all in one. Lots of history and various exhibitions opened and events as there aeems to be a schedule for the seasons of spring and summer. A lot of history to learn about the Swedish Immigrant experience, a lot to take in and understand the long history just in Oregon. The path and lush greenery outside adds to the house for an interactive experience. The gift shop too has little trinkets to purchase as well as cups, kitchen towels, chocolates, and variety of gifts. A great place to explore with some time if you're waiting for the restaurant like my group was, you can learn something by filling your minds but also your stomach read more

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Wonderfully curated spot! I felt fully emerged in the Nordic culture. We will definitely be back.

Amazing food, great service in a beautiful setting! Cannot wait to go back. The potato pancakes are outstanding.

What a cool spot to stop on our way to Seaside! Beautiful grounds and "meeting" Ole Bolle was awesome! His gentle eyes seemed to be looking right at you, no matter what direction. Quite a masterpiece Thomas Dambo created! And it's free to visit; next time we will bring a picnic read more

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Are you waiting for a table at the fantastic little Broder Soder cafe? Well, you're in luck because the cafe is tucked inside of Nordia House, so you can check out their small museum & learn a bit about Scandinavian culture and their immigrants who settled in the Pacific Northwest. They also have a small gift shop and the Nordic Northwest association hosts a number of events at Nordia House throughout the year. The building itself, both inside and out, is a beautiful design and it is surrounding by lovely grounds and landscaping. This place is definitely worth a visit and plan on dining at the Broder Soder cafe while you are there. There may be a wait for a table, as I started with, so why not plan that into your visit and have a look around? read more

We enjoyed looking around the grounds this morning at Nordic Northwest. Learned a lot about my girlfriends heritage and saw some really neat things. They have a cafe and bar. Artwork was awesome and the property outside was extremely well maintained. Next time we'll try grabbing a bite to eat there and maybe a cocktail. read more

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Went here in June of 2022. I have celiac and was just looking for a place to eat breakfast, but the little fairy tale museum + the beautiful greenery outside of the forest were such a treat! The staff was nice, the hash was great, and I'm still thinking about the London fog a year later! read more

Nordia House is the center of Scandinavian culture in the Portland area. It is run by the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation. the building itself is a great example of Nordic style architecture. The front doors of the building are absolutely beautiful and hand carved wood. Behind the great hall in the back of the building is a large patio. The stones that make up the patio can be engraved. In the front of the building are all of the Scandinavian flags fluttering in the breeze. Inside of the building is Broder Söder Restaurant. They have a great menu of Scandinavian food and it's in a relaxing atmosphere. There is a display outside of the main hall on Lutheranism which I found interesting. I think it would be a great idea to actually use this area to showcase some Scandinavian American Art or historic pieces that celebrate Scandinavian culture. An interesting thing I learned was that Nordia House and the Scandinavian museum of Seattle sometimes work together in getting cultural events scheduled in both of these locations. So if you can't make it in one location you might be able to catch it at the other. There is a Nordic style house to the side of the property where an Honorary Council of Sweden currently resides. This is currently private property but it is bequeathed to the center and will one day be a museum. Nordia House has lots of cultural events offered throughout the year. Festivals and concerts, cooking classes, lectures, films. Keep up with events by checking out their website. read more

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This little community house was one of the best, unintentional outcome from dining at the Broder Soder. Unfortunately, the gift shop was not open, but the exhibits are free for all passerby and there is so much amazing history and culture on every wall. In retrospect, I would have liked to have waited for longer to dine, if nothing than to just take in all of the museum. read more

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Looking for a way to connect with my Norwegian-American mom, I invited her to attend the first Friday's lecture series at Nordic house. The first talk we attended was on runes. The speaker was great and the crowd was all ages. Would recommend for anyone interested in exploring different cultures. The location was also easy to access with plenty of parking. I would give five stars, but the gift shop was closed. It would've been nice to shop a little :) read more

My husband and I rented Nordia House for our wedding in May 2017 and had a fantastic experience! The non-profit that runs the building is very small but despite their relatively little experience operating the building as a venue, everything went off swimmingly. Catering is offered exclusively by Broder Söder (twist my arm, admittedly a major selling point). It was absolutely delicious and ultimately reasonable considering what some exclusive catering agreements cost at other venues. We were able to use the patio for the ceremony with the backdrop of the forested area behind, the exhibit hall and café area for the cocktail hour, and the great hall for the reception. We had 75 guests, and while the great hall could have accommodated at least 30 more people, it didn't feel too sparse. The architecture of the building is absolutely stunning--spartan and minimalist but warm with all the wood elements. The great hall has built-in sound and a projector, but it's really designed for lectures and cultural events so you'd want to bring in your own speakers if you expect to do any dancing. read more

You will want to turn in when you see the Nordic/Scandinavian flags. They have a large parking area on the side of the building. I was only in this building once to visit the famous Broder Restaurant. I have to say that the building is an architectural gem. A very well planned and built community and events center that is esthetically pleasing to the eye. They have a patio off Broder that they open up when the weather is nice. They are home to events such as folk dancing and folk dancing lessons, cooking classes, film nights,musical concerts of all types, lectures, and much more. You may choose to check there events calendar online. I like this building and the grounds. Very serene. read more

Nordic Northwest - Houses Broder cuisine in the rear of the building. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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2015 meeting at PSU Jan 17 - Scandinavian Genealogical Society Meeting Location: Finnish Room (124 Cramer Hall) 9:00-12:00pm read more

This is a beautiful cultural center and with Broder Soder, not just a terrific place for events. Well thought out displays and special programs throughout the year. read more

Nordic Northwest - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My husband and I got married at Nordia House at the beginning of June, 2018. The whole event was amazing. The planning stages with Casey and Minna were a breeze. I brought them our vision, they explained what other options and additions they could help create and were very communicative throughout the entire process. The day of the event their whole team were consummate professionals. Everything was set up, they coordinated with our external vendors, and again, the staff was there to help at every turn. We even had our own person to take care of us, Molly. We were so busy receiving people, we didn't stop at the buffet. They made us a plate of food (delicious, btw) and placed it at our sweetheart table so that we could take a quick break and get some much needed nourishment. Everything went off without a hitch and we were able to focus on all the love surrounding us that day! Besides the top notch service and planning, this place is gorgeous. It is in a great location, but hidden away from the street. Beautiful trees and landscaping make the back lawn the ideal place for a ceremony. The building has art exhibits inside, so there is some character to building, not a start banquet hall. The Danish modern look of the ballroom with floor to ceiling windows on one wall allow for a tremendous amount of natural light. So, great service, delicious food, caring staff, and idyllic surrounding. What more could you ask for when planning a wedding!! I highly recommend this place. read more

Took my Swedish/Norwegian mom to the cafe inside here - Broder Soder. It was light, bright and delicious. We both had the "Swedish Hash". Mine was with smoked trout and her's was with seasonal veggies. All mixed with cubed potatoes and topped with two eggs. Oh! And wonderful pickled beets. So yummy! The whole place looks wonderful- we'll be back! read more

Nordia House is a wonderful Scandinavian building, the space and surroundings are very nice with great architectural design. The Broder Soder Cafe not so much. I come hoping with every visit that the folks would behave less bothered by a request, the food portions worthy of the price and gluten free options will become available. The new gift shop addition is much appreciated and will be the reason I return again and again. read more