Skip to content
Liknes town centre with the footbridge over the river Kvina
Kvinesdal · Lister · Agder

Liknes

Rushingriversandadrenalinerushes

In the heart of Kvinesdal lies Liknes, a small town where the river Kvina runs through the landscape and ties the centre together. There is plenty of scope here for calm, everyday happiness. But also for adrenaline kicks of many kinds!

Residents
~2,600
Landscape
River valley
Known for
Its American heritage
Municipality
Kvinesdal — administrative centre
The rivers
Kvina and Litleåna
School
Primary and lower secondary
Water park
Kvinabadet

Liknes · Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Thrills
  3. American heritage
  4. Everyday life
  5. Employers
  6. Jobs
  7. Services
  8. Location
  9. FAQ

Thrills high and low

Liknes, the administrative centre of Kvinesdal, lies by the rivers Kvina and Litleåna, which meet and run right through the centre. On the riverbank you will find a sandy beach with large green areas — perfect for young and old to have fun on.

A girl in swimming goggles under water in the pool at Kvinabadet
Photo: Solfrid S. Økland

But if you want even more water action, it is not far to Kvinabadet and more fun in the water. There you will find the longest water slide in Southern Norway, at over 63 metres — for anyone who wants a real rush! As well as a swimming pool there are hot tubs both indoors and outdoors, and a paddling pool for the little ones.

Two children in armbands jumping into the pool at Kvinabadet

Full speed in the pool at Kvinabadet. Photo: Solfrid S. Økland

The little ones get their share too. They may not be climbing sheer mountain faces or racing down a water slide of more than 60 metres. But they can let loose in Kvinaparken, a large play park in the centre of Liknes. Here they can romp in the playground, cycle on the track or try out the outdoor exercise equipment. There are plenty of benches around the park, perfect for a picnic break — and for the grown-ups to relax on. Right by the park you will find a whole cluster of shops, restaurants and the riverside promenade. All within a short distance.

A boy playing football in Kvinaparken, with the play equipment behind

Kvinaparken, right in the centre. Photo: Visit Sørlandet

And speaking of action, there is no getting around another attraction that can make your heart beat faster. Less than an hour’s drive away you will find Knaben Via Ferrata. The route goes up the mountain Knabekniben, 786 metres above sea level, and is probably not for those of us who are afraid of heights. But what a trip, what a view!

Read the story of Knaben, the mining village that became world history

Film

Knaben Via Ferrata

The climbing route up Knabekniben, seen from the air.

Open on YouTube →

Film: Knaben Via Ferrata

A bit Norway. A bit America. All Kvinesdal.

The heritage from the USA is warmly present in Liknes — as in the rest of Kvinesdal. Even the language has been influenced by old America. Here the boot of a car may well be called a “trunk”, while names such as Andy, Stanley, Steven, Alice, Cindy, Gladys and Sherry have left a clearer mark on local naming customs than in most other places in Norway.

The explanation lies in the large-scale emigration from Kvinesdal to the USA, which was particularly extensive from the late 1800s and well into the 1900s. Many left. And many came back with stories, habits and American influences in their luggage. The ties are still alive: around one in ten residents held American citizenship in the 1980s, and every year people from Kvinesdal and Norwegian Americans gather for Utvandrerfestivalen, the emigrant festival — a whole week of culture, concerts and meetings between two sides of the same story.

So if you hear someone say “trunk” in Kvinesdal, spot an especially flamboyant Christmas garden or meet a Stanley in the shop, perhaps it is not so strange after all. Old America is quite simply part of the DNA of the people of Kvinesdal.

A place to land and live

For the 2,600 people who live in Liknes, nature is never far away, and everyday life is lived with short distances to kindergarten and school, shops and leisure activities. That frees up time. Time you can spend with the people you love, or on quality time alone.

Liknes is not a big town, but for some that is exactly what makes it attractive. The pace is slower here, distances are short and the community is close-knit. For many, it is about finding an everyday life that is simpler, safer and easier to manage. Without giving up activities and opportunities.

People out and about on the square in Liknes centre on a sunny day

Life in the town centre.

Liknes is a place to live everyday life, close to the river, to nature and to the people around you. With rushing rivers and the occasional adrenaline rush.

Drone film

Liknes from the air

The rivers, the bridge and the centre — seen from above.

Employers

Career Opportunities

Utsikten Hotell arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Utsikten Hotell

Utsikten Hotell combines traditional hospitality with modern hotel management. As part of Unike Hoteller we have access to shared systems for quality assurance, digital solutions and a joint loyalty programme (Unike Disc...

Read more
Hunsbedt Bilberging arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Hunsbedt Bilberging

Hunsbedt Bilberging consists of two parts: vehicle recovery and Hunsbedt Bergingsteknikk. The recovery side covers the area from Helleland to Vigeland, recovering motorcycles, cars, lorries and buses, and handles around...

Read more
Nils Kloster arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Nils Kloster

At Nils Kloster AS you get both security and a future — with solid technical expertise, good customer service and a working environment where people stay. We combine tradition and technology to create solutions that last...

Read more
Kvina Maskin arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Kvina Maskin

Kvina Maskin is a well-regarded contracting company based in Kvinesdal — known for solid technical knowledge, modern technology and environmentally conscious civil engineering services.

Read more
Lister Ferdigbetong arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Lister Ferdigbetong

Lister Ferdigbetong delivers ready-mixed concrete along with pumping and transport services to customers across the whole Lister region. With long experience, modern equipment and a clear commitment to service, we offer...

Read more
Kvinesdal Sparebank arbeidsgiver
Kvinesdal

Kvinesdal Sparebank

Kvinesdal Sparebank is a local bank with more than 150 years of experience, offering personal advice and modern banking services to private and business customers alike. Through the Eika partnership we have access to the...

Read more

Showing 6 of 14

Get to know the area

Local stories and traditions that give Liknes its distinct character.

Frode Johannessen, Lister relocation guide

Want to know more about moving to Liknes? Send a message to a Lister relocation guide who knows Liknes.

How to get started
Location

Where is Liknes?

Liknes lies where the rivers Kvina and Litleåna meet, 25 kilometres east of Flekkefjord. The town is the administrative centre of Kvinesdal municipality, with the E39 running through the municipality and a short way to both fjord and hills.

Liknes

MunicipalityKvinesdal
RegionLister
CountyAgder
Open in Maps

Sources & Credits

Photography

Top photo: Spectacular Norway. Drone film: Stoltenberg Medierådgivning.

Text

Text from the content provider, translated provisionally.

Frode Johannessen — one of the Lister relocation guides
Lister Portal

For anyone who wants to know more about moving to Liknes

Whether you are thinking of moving back home, want to try something new in Norway or are coming from another country: create a free profile and register what you are looking for. You will get suggestions for places that fit, alerts about new jobs, and a way to be in touch with municipalities, employers and a local guide in Lister.

  • The place that fits youRegister what you are looking for and get suggestions for places that match.
  • Jobs that fitGet an alert when positions that suit you are posted.
  • Contact both waysMunicipalities and employers in Lister can reach you, and you them.
  • A guide who lives hereAsk a person who knows the municipality.

Free profile · no obligations