Skip to content

Zurhaar AS
Our story

The full history of Zurhaar AS, its founding families, and its acquisitions.

Explore

The full history of Zurhaar AS, its founding families, and its acquisitions.

Explore
1800
1900

Nesttun established as an industrial site

The Vosse railway was built in 1883, and shortly afterwards Nesttun was established as an industrial site. The river provided electrical power and the Ullvarefabrukken was built where the entrance to the Nesttun Cultural Center stands today. The town hall, church, school, trade, and industry made Nesttun the center of Fana’s municipality.

Where before there were only split roads, Nesttunveien was now built in 1860 and Hardangerveien built in 1875-77. These new country roads and the railway formed the basis for the town of Nesttun.

1950

Apartment buildings in a row along the roads

Nesttun’s most expansive history began in the 1950s. Østre Nesttunvei was established as a mirror image of Nesttunveien, giving the center its characteristic eye shape with the square as a natural center point.

In the 1960s, several blocks of flats were built in a row along the roads. Eventually, the car park, the Nesttun center, and the Fana Culture Center also came.

These buildings are seen as the most important foundations of today’s living Nesttun.

Zurhaar Birkeland

Right from the start, Nesttun farm was in full operation and until today, descendants of the Nesttun family have owned and run the majority of Nesttun centre.

The married couple Rita Nesttun/Willem Zurhaar were responsible for much of the property development that today forms the basis of the modern Nesttun.

After Willem senior’s death in 1989, the estate was divided in two, of which the youngest daughter Mette van Vlissingen Zurhaar and her husband Rune Birkeland took over and established one part, thereby establishing Zurhaar Eiendom AS.

Haldorsen

Finn Haldorsen’s background was as an industrial owner from Rubbestadneset. He was the son of Haldor Haldorsen who started Wichmann Motorfabrikk AS in 1903 and Finn became managing director of the company in 1974.

He had already then developed what is today called ‘Rubbhall’ and decided to further develop this concept internationally. He therefore resigned from Wichmann Motorfabrikk in 1977 and moved to England where he established Rubb Buildings Ltd.

In 1983 he moved to the USA and established Rubb Inc. Both of these companies are part of what is today called Rubb Group AS. Finn Haldorsen wanted to spread risk and looked for a skilled partner in the property market in Bergen in the early 1990s.

Here he was recommended to Rune Birkeland, and during the years they became both personal friends and very capable partners. He therefore established the company Hansa Invest AS, which was to look after the family’s interests in property.

1993

Zurhaar & Rubb AS

In 1993, Zurhaar & Rubb AS was formed jointly between Finn Haldorsen and Rune Birkeland.

The company and the manager own a total property stock of approx. 170,000 m² located in the Bergen area, Bømlo, Askøy, Krøderen, Fornebu, Tranås (Sweden), Sanford Main (USA), Lodz (Poland) and Saltwell Park (UK).

2020

Hallmaker Group / Rubb Industries AS

February 2020, Zurhaar AS took over all shares in Hallmaker Group AS with subsidiaries. Hallmaker Group AS changed its name to Rubb Industries AS at the end of 2020.

2022

O.B.Wiik

January 2022, Zurhaar AS took over all shares in O.B.Wiik AS with subsidiaries. The group now has 420 employees globally and approx. 170,000 m² commercial property.

2022

Zurhaar AS

Zurhaar & Rubb AS simplifies its name to Zurhaar AS.