About The Norden Association

The Norden Association of Iceland is a politically independent and non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that was founded almost 90 years ago. Norden Associations were first founded in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in 1919. In 1922 the Norden Association of Iceland or “Norræna félagið” was established.
Across all of the Nordic countries the Norden Association has approximately 70 000 members, and in Iceland we have around 2000 members.
Each Nordic country has its own Norden Association which co-operate together under the umbrella of the International Norden Association. Together we are the oldest organizations, promoting Nordic co-operation in all fields, officially as well as unofficially.

The aim of the Norden Association remains as it has always been: to stimulate and improve Nordic co-operation at all levels, especially in the fields of education, culture, labour, aid and environmental care.
Today we operate a wide variety of cultural programs. Nordjobb is a program for young people, particular students, enabling them to find work in other Nordic countries.
About our logo
The International Norden logo is made up of a globe with 8 smaller circles representing each of the Nordic nations including Greenland and the independently governed island of Aland.

The Norden Association has its own organization for young people between 16 and 35, with around 8000 members. The association arranges trips, seminars about nordic topics and nordic events of special interest to young people.
Caf Norden is perhaps the biggest annual event, with different themes each year and interesting seminars and speakers from nordic authorities and companies.
Every year Nordjobb finds summer jobs for more than 700 young people, aged 18-28, all over the Nordic Region. For many of them this is their first summer job abroad.

The Nordic Council and The Nordic Council of Ministers, www.norden.org, represent the official side of nordic co-operation. The Nordic Council was formed in 1952 and is the forum for inter-parliamentary co-operation. The Council has 87 members, representing the five countries and three autonomous territories.
The friendship-towns system
The friendship-town system is a vital part of Nordic co-operation and has been of significant importance in enabling citizens in the nordic countries to have contact with each other.