Ørje is the administrative centre of Marker municipality, Norway, not far from the Swedish border. Its population (2013) is 3872
Ørje was founded in the 1880s around a timber-processing mill. Engebret Soot had built the first Norwegian canal locks at Ørje in the years 1857-1860 (no:Ørje sluser). The total lift of the locks are 10 meters (30 feet) divided on 3 steps. The locks are situated between the lakes "Rødenessjøen" and "Øymarksjøen" as a part of the Halden Canal Waterway System.[1][2][3][4]
In the decades following World War II, Ørje developed substantial industry and commerce. Today, the service sector, including tourism have partly replaced manufacture and agriculture/forestry as the most important economic sectors. Ørje is known for its canal museum (Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum) and steamboat club, military fortifications from 1905 and locks.[5]
Ørje has also become well-known due to a pedestrian crossing sign installed at Storgata 59 by the Swedish artists' collective Kreativiteket. The sign is based on a character from Monty Python's "Ministry of Silly Walks" sketch, and instructs pedestrians to cross the street in a silly manner.[6]
