Nå som glidelåsen er ødelagt, bruker jeg beltet til den lange frakken i stedet.

Nå som is a conjunction meaning now that. It introduces a reason or background situation that is true at the moment.

So Nå som glidelåsen er ødelagt means something like now that the zipper is broken.

It is very common when one situation leads to a new choice or consequence:

• Nå som det regner, blir vi inne. — Now that it’s raining, we’re staying inside.
• Nå som du er her, kan vi begynne. — Now that you’re here, we can start.

Because glidelåsen is the definite form: the zipper.

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun:

• en glidelås — a zipper
• glidelåsen — the zipper

So instead of using a separate word like the, Norwegian usually adds -en, -a, or -et to the noun, depending on the noun’s gender and form.

Here, ødelagt is a predicate adjective (or adjective-like past participle) after er.

In glidelåsen er ødelagt, it means the zipper is broken.

This form is normal here. Compare:

• Glidelåsen er ødelagt. — The zipper is broken.
• Den ødelagte glidelåsen — The broken zipper.

That second example is different because the adjective comes before the noun, where Norwegian uses a different form.

Because Norwegian follows the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb usually comes in second position.

The sentence begins with the clause Nå som glidelåsen er ødelagt, so that whole clause takes the first position. Then the verb of the main clause must come next:

• Nå som glidelåsen er ødelagt, bruker jeg beltet ...

If you started directly with jeg, then you would get:

• Jeg bruker beltet ...

So the word order changes because of what comes first.

Beltet means the belt, while et belte means a belt.

Here, the speaker means a specific belt: the one belonging to the long coat. Because it is a specific, identifiable belt, Norwegian uses the definite form:

• beltet — the belt

This is very natural in Norwegian when the listener can understand which object is meant.

Here, til shows possession or connection, similar to of or belonging to in English.

So:

• beltet til den lange frakken = the belt of the long coat / the belt from the long coat

It does not mean to here in the usual direction sense.

This structure is very common in Norwegian:

• nøkkelen til bilen — the key to/of the car
• døra til huset — the door of the house
• beltet til frakken — the belt of the coat

Because Norwegian usually uses double definiteness when a noun is definite and has an adjective before it.

So you get:

• frakken — the coat
• den lange frakken — the long coat

You need both:

1. the separate definite marker den
2. the noun in its definite form frakken

And the adjective also changes form:

• en lang frakk — a long coat
• den lange frakken — the long coat

This is a very important pattern in Norwegian.

Because when an adjective comes before a definite noun, it usually takes the -e ending.

So:

• en lang frakk — a long coat
• den lange frakken — the long coat

This -e form is also used in plural in many cases:

• lange frakker — long coats

I stedet means instead.

In this sentence, it shows that the speaker is using something as a replacement:

• the zipper is broken
• so the speaker uses the coat belt instead

It is a very common fixed expression:

• Jeg tar te i stedet. — I’ll have tea instead.
• Kan vi gå i morgen i stedet? — Can we go tomorrow instead?

That is a very natural position for it. In Norwegian, i stedet often comes near the end when it modifies the whole action.

So:

• ... bruker jeg beltet til den lange frakken i stedet.

This sounds natural and clear: the speaker uses the belt instead of the zipper.

You can sometimes move adverbials around in Norwegian, but the end position is very common here.

Because Norwegian often uses the simple present where English uses either:

• I use
• or I’m using

So:

• jeg bruker can mean I use or I’m using, depending on context.

Norwegian does have ways to emphasize an ongoing action, but in ordinary speech the simple present is very often enough.

Yes, you often could, but the nuance changes a little.

• Nå som ... = now that ..., focusing on the present situation
• Siden ... = since / because ..., focusing more directly on the reason

So:

• Nå som glidelåsen er ødelagt ... emphasizes that this is the situation now.
• Siden glidelåsen er ødelagt ... sounds more like a straightforward explanation.

Both are possible, but Nå som fits especially well when a new condition has led to a new choice.