" Ja , vi elsker dette landet " was written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and composed by Rikard Nordraakbetween 1859 and 1868 , and gradually came to replace " Sønner av Norge " as the most recognised national anthem . Until the early 20th century , " Sønner av Norge " and " Ja , vi elsker dette landet " were used alongside each other , but " Sønner av Norge " was the anthem preferred in official settings . Since 2011 , the anthem '' Mitt lille land '' by Ole Paus has additionally been referred to by the media as a " new national anthem " and notably featured most prominently in all the memorial ceremonies following the 2011 Norway attacks . On the Norwegian Constitution Day in 2012 , the NRK broadcast was opened with " Mitt lille land . " In addition , Norway has a ( unofficial ) royal anthem , " Kongesangen " , based on " God Save the King " and written in its modern form by Gustav Jensen . The psalm " Gud signe vårt dyre fedreland " , written by Elias Blix and with a melody by Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse , is often referred to as Norway 's " national psalm "
2011 Norway attacks
2011 Norway attacks
Ja, vi elsker dette landet