Norwegian fjord paradise offers free rent to digital nomads

Geiranger, Norway—a village known for its dramatic fjord views—is testing a new strategy to counter rural depopulation: invite remote workers to live there rent-free during the winter. The Arctic Digital Nomads Grant, launched in 2024, offers free housing and office space to a small group of digital professionals willing to engage with local life. The pilot drew over 300 applicants for 15 spots and is now expanding with new infrastructure and lessons learned. It’s part tourism, part community-building, and a response to the quiet crisis of rural decline. Richard Orange with TheLocal.norway has the full story.