Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Mange sier at denne plattformen er det beste stedet for å fotografere fjelltoppen. - Many say that this platform is the best place to photograph the mountain top.

Because sted (place) is a neuter noun in Norwegian: et sted – stedet. With an attributive superlative before a neuter noun, you use det: det beste stedet. Den is used with common-gender nouns (e.g., den beste bilen).

Why is it beste and not best?

Norwegian uses two superlative forms:

best in predicative position (after the verb): Dette stedet er best.
beste in attributive position (before a noun): det beste stedet. Your sentence has the attributive pattern, so beste is required.

Why do we have both det and the -et ending in det beste stedet?

This is the Norwegian double definiteness rule: when a definite noun has a preceding determiner (demonstrative, possessive, or superlative), you mark definiteness twice:

Determiner: det
Definite suffix on the noun: stedet Hence: det beste stedet.

Why is it denne plattformen and not denne plattform?

With demonstratives you also need double definiteness: the demonstrative plus the definite suffix on the noun. So it’s denne plattformen (not ×denne plattform). The same happens with adjectives: denne nye plattformen.

Could I use dette instead of denne before plattformen?

No. Dette is neuter; plattform is a common-gender noun. Use denne plattformen. You could say dette stedet because sted is neuter.

Can I drop at after sier?

In informal speech, you’ll sometimes hear Mange sier denne plattformen er … (omitting at). In careful writing, keep at: Mange sier at …. Using at is always safe and clear.

What’s the word order after at in the subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses, the finite verb does not move to second position. Typical order is Subject–(negation/adverb)–Verb:

Mange sier at denne plattformen ikke er det beste stedet.
Mange sier at denne plattformen ofte er populær. Compare a main clause: Denne plattformen er ofte populær.

Why for å fotografere and not just å fotografere or til å fotografere?

for å + infinitive expresses purpose: “in order to.” After sted, both are common: det beste stedet for å fotografere … or det beste stedet å fotografere … (without for).
til å is used with some nouns like tools/means: et verktøy til å skjære, and with certain adjectives, but it’s less idiomatic with sted.

Do I need fra at the end (… å fotografere fjelltoppen fra)?

Not required, but common and natural if you want to stress the vantage point:

… det beste stedet for å fotografere fjelltoppen (fra). You can add fra (denne plattformen) explicitly, or strand it at the end: … å fotografere fjelltoppen fra.

Why is fjelltoppen definite here?

Because the context implies a specific peak the speaker and listener know about. fjelltoppen = “the mountain top.” If you meant mountain tops in general, you’d use indefinite/plural: fjelltopper. Another idiomatic option for a specific mountain is toppen av fjellet (“the top of the mountain”).

How is the compound fjelltoppen formed and declined?

The head is topp (common gender), so it determines the endings:

Indefinite singular: en/ei fjelltopp
Definite singular: fjelltoppen
Indefinite plural: fjelltopper
Definite plural: fjelltoppene Norwegian compounds are written as one word: fjell + topp + en → fjelltoppen.

Is plattform masculine or feminine? Is plattforma acceptable?

In Bokmål, many formerly feminine nouns can be treated as common gender (masculine pattern). You’ll most often see:

en plattform – plattformen Feminine forms are also allowed:
ei plattform – plattforma Either is correct; just be consistent in your style. The demonstrative stays denne in both cases.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts (fjell, å, fotografere, plattformen, stedet)?

fjell: roughly “fyell”; the fj is [fj], and ll is a long clear L.
å: like the vowel in British “law” (rounded “aw”).
fotografere: fo-to-gra-FEH-reh (stress on the second-last syllable).
plattformen: PLATT-form-en (double t = a short, crisp t; r trilled or tapped).
stedet: STEH-det (short e as in “bed”).

Can I say ta bilder av instead of fotografere?

Yes. Both are natural:

… for å fotografere fjelltoppen.
… for å ta bilder av fjelltoppen. The latter is a bit more colloquial; fotografere is slightly more formal/compact.

Could I rephrase it as Mange sier at dette er den beste plattformen for å fotografere fjelltoppen?

Yes. That focuses on the platform as the subject complement:

dette er den beste plattformen … (common gender → den) Your original focuses on the place: det beste stedet … (neuter → det).

What does mange stand for here?

Mange on its own means “many (people).” Norwegian often omits personer/folk when it’s obvious:

Mange sier at … ≈ “Many (people) say that …” You can also say: Det er mange som sier at …

Can I use om instead of at after sier?

No. Use at for “that”-clauses after reporting verbs like si/fortelle/mene. om is used for indirect yes/no questions: Han spør om det er sant (“He asks if it’s true”), not ×sier om.

Why not for å fotografi fjelltoppen?

Because for å must be followed by a verb in the infinitive. fotografi is a noun (“a photograph”). If you want a noun phrase, use for fotografering (av):

… det beste stedet for fotografering av fjelltoppen. (formal)
More natural: … for å fotografere fjelltoppen.

Do I need a comma before at?

No comma is needed here: Mange sier at denne plattformen … In modern Norwegian comma rules, you don’t place a comma before an object at-clause unless required by a larger sentence structure or a parenthetical pause.