Museums

  • Museums, Narvik, World War II

    Visiting the Narvik World War II Museum

    Visiting the Narvik WWII Museum

    The Narvik WWII Museum is a must-see for anyone travelling around the region. When you ask most non-Norwegians about Norway’s involvement during the war, they have typically heard of either the heavy water sabotage or the Battle of Narvik. The Battle of Narvik was the first Allied victory of World War II and took place in this small town about the Arctic Circle. The battle is so well-known that it was turned into a Netflix movie a couple of years ago!

    So, if you’re travelling near Narvik, I encourage you to take a detour and visit this museum. Here’s my practical guide to the museum in Narvik, explaining why it exists, what happened here during the war, and what you can see.

    In this article...

    Norway Travel Guide
    Narvik Travel Guide

    The Battle of Narvik

    Narvik’s ice-free port made it crucial to both sides: it was the main outlet for high-grade Swedish iron ore needed by German industry. In April 1940 Germany invaded neutral Norway to seize Narvik, landing mountain troops on 9 April. Allied ships counter-attacked in the fjords on 10–13 April, sinking or damaging many German destroyers. The port was a scene of intense naval battles and ground fighting in freezing conditions. In late May 1940 Norwegian, British, French and Polish forces launched a coordinated assault and recaptured Narvik on 28 May – the first Allied land victory of WWII.

    However, the German invasion of France forced the Allies to withdraw: between 4–8 June the garrison was evacuated back to Britain, and Narvik was re-occupied by German troops on 8 June (Norway surrendered on 10 June).

    Development of the Museum

    A local war museum was first opened in Narvik in 1964 (as the Nordland Red Cross War Memorial Museum). For decades, it preserved artefacts and stories of the Narvik battles. In 2014 a new foundation – the Narvik War and Peace Centre – took over its operation.

    In August 2016, the museum moved into a modern new building (the Narvik War and Peace Centre), with state-of-the-art exhibits. Today, the museum (often called Narvik Krigsmuseum) is run as part of this War and Peace Centre, supported by the Norwegian government and local authorities.

    What You Can See Inside

    On the main floor are items from the early days of the occupation as well as items from the Battle of Narvik. As you enter, one of the first exhibitions is a screen that displays the Battle of Narvik on the Ofotfjord, highlighting the locations where naval battles took place and where ships were sunk. It’s fascinating to watch, and I encourage you to watch the whole thing. There are also items from around Northern Norway during the early days of the war, including fragments of a bomb that landed in nearby Bodø.

    Heading to the next room, this documents life in Norway during the occupation. Items focus on occupation, everyday life, resistance, propaganda, and Jewish deportation. There’s money, ration carts, identification cards, newspaper articles, and even a waffle iron from the war time. There’s a large collection of uniforms form both the Nazis and the Norwegians, as well as various guns used during the war.

    As you head downstairs, you come to this room full of huge war machinery. Notable large exhibits include a Hotchkiss H35 tank (from the period of the campaign) and several captured German mountain guns. These heavy weapons (for example, a 7.5 cm mountain gun) are depicted as they were used on the Arctic battlefields.

    Practical Information

    Opening Hours

    The Narvik WWII Museum is open all year round, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the summer months, extended hours are available until 6 pm.

    Admission Prices

    Please visit their website directly for the most up-to-date admission prices.

    Parking

    You can park in the parking garage “Parkhallen”, which is under the Scandic Hotel and only a few minutes walk from the museum. 

    Language

    The main exhibitions are in English and Norwegian, but there are also translations for French, German, Polish, and Sami available via a QR code. Free wifi is at the museum.

    Accessibility

    There is an elevator connecting all the floors.

    Shop

    The shop is excellent with a ton of books in multiple languages about World War II in Norway. There’s also some general souvenirs and local handicrafts.

    Cafe

    The café is lovely with good coffee, sandwiches, and cakes.

    Website

    You can learn more about the museum at their website: https://stiftelsennarviksenteret.no/international/

  • Museums, Sandefjord, Svalbard, Tromsø

    The Fascinating History of Whaling & Sealing in Norway

    The Fascinating History of Whaling & Sealing

    The fascinating history of whaling and sealing in Norway is worth reading about before you come to this part of the world. I know that many would not associate whaling and sealing with being fascinating, considering the stigma associated with them today. However, I think it’s essential to understand how life in Norway was 200 years ago and why it was much more of a necessity than it is today. I’ve conducted a thorough examination of the history of whaling and sealing in Norway, aiming to understand the historical connections to this industry and its impact on modern Norway.

    I didn’t realise how long this article would be, so apologies for the lengthy text. But trust me, as you get reading, you’ll understand why I couldn’t cut it down. 

    In this article...

    Norway Travel Guide

    Early Origins of Whaling & Sealing

    Whales and seals have been part of Norwegian coastal life since ancient times. Norse communities in the Viking Age occasionally harvested small whales that ventured near shore or drove whole pods (e.g. pilot whales) into fjords. Norse sagas mention disputes over stranded whale carcasses, suggesting that a beached whale was a prized windfall, though no large-scale whaling industry existed in medieval Norway. Early Norwegians did practice a form of spear-drift whaling: hunters in open boats would harpoon a whale with a marked spear and later claim the carcass when it washed ashore. This subsistence approach, along with opportunistic scavenging of drift whales, characterised the early relationship between Norwegians and whales.

    Seals were another important resource for coastal and Arctic peoples. In the far north, Indigenous groups and later Norwegian settlers hunted seals for meat, blubber, and hides using simple tools.

    Hunting in Svalbard

    Hunting Arctic animals around Svalbard became highly competitive throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, with Russians, Germans, Norwegians, Danes, and the Dutch all competing for whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and polar bears.

    German crews began hunting seals on the drifting pack ice between Greenland and Svalbard. In the 1700s, Norwegians and Danes took over this sealing ground from the Germans. Unlike whaling, sealing required less capital – a small sailing ship and hardy crew could set out each spring to the ice floes to club or shoot seals and return with valuable pelts and oil. These early sealing expeditions were perilous; crews braved treacherous ice and arctic storms, as tragically illustrated by the Svenskehuset Tragedy of 1872–73, when seventeen Norwegian sealers overwintering in Svalbard perished.

    Trade Competition

    In the 17th century, the rich Arctic seas around Svalbard drew whalers from across Europe. Dutch, English, and Basque whaling fleets established seasonal camps on the archipelago. These whalers targeted the bountiful Greenland right and bowhead whales, rendering their blubber into oil on primitive shore-based tryworks (boiling stations) and collecting baleen “whalebone” for use in corsets and buggy whips. Competition was fierce: nations vied for dominance over the whaling grounds, even coming into naval skirmishes in the icy bays. By the late 1600s, Svalbard’s bays – once teeming with whales – saw drastic declines from over-harvesting. Whaling around Svalbard declined in the 18th century as whale populations there were depleted, and interest from the Dutch and British shifted or waned.

    Nevertheless, the legacy of this era remains in place names like Smeerenburg (“Blubber Town”), a Dutch-built whaling station on Svalbard’s Amsterdam Island that once bustled with try-pots and whalers. These early episodes set the stage: Norwegians inherited a tradition of deriving sustenance and wealth from marine mammals, even if other nations initially dominated large-scale operations. By the end of the 18th century, Norway’s direct role in whaling was still limited. Still, a generation of Norwegian seafarers and entrepreneurs had taken note of the profits to be made from the “red gold” of whale and seal oil.

    The Birth of Modern Whaling

    In the 1800s, Norway rose to prominence by revolutionising whaling technology. The turning point came with Svend Foyn (pictured), a Norwegian sealer-turned-innovator often referred to as the father of modern whaling. Foyn was born in Tønsberg in 1809 and had spent years in the Arctic sealing trade, which gave him the experience to tackle the problem of hunting larger whale species. At that time, traditional methods could only reliably catch slow-moving whales, such as right whales, or rely on chance strandings. Foyn recognised that to hunt the swift, powerful rorquals (such as blue, fin, and sei whales) which frequent Norway’s coast, a faster ship and a deadlier weapon were needed.

    After studying others’ experiments (American whalers had trialled a rocket harpoon in the 1860s without commercial success), Foyn devised a practical solution. In 1864, he outfitted a small steam-powered vessel and, after several trials, patented an explosive-tipped harpoon cannon in 1870—a device that would change whaling forever. His harpoon was fired from a mounted cannon; when the barbed head struck a whale, a grenade charge detonated inside, ensuring a swift kill or lethal injury. This innovation, coupled with faster steam catchers, suddenly made it feasible to chase and take down the previously untouchable big whales of the North Atlantic.

    Foyn launched Norway’s first modern whaling company in the 1860s out of Finnmark. Early attempts were modest – his inaugural voyage in 1864 yielded only a few whales – but by the 1870s Foyn’s methods proved extraordinarily effective. He established a shore station at Vadsø and negotiated a monopoly license from the Norwegian government (1873–1883) to keep competitors at bay while he refined the business. Foyn’s crews hunted primarily rorquals, towing the floating carcasses back to shore for processing. Nearly every part of the whale was utilised: blubber was rendered into oil (for soap, lamp fuel, and later margarine production), bones and meat scraps were boiled down into guano fertiliser, and baleen found ready markets in industry.

    One thing Foyn struggled to do was create a local appetite for whale meat – 19th-century Norwegians were not keen on eating whale, so the flesh was mostly discarded or turned into animal feed. Nonetheless, profits from oil and baleen were rich. Soon, other Norwegians sought to join in the action. Even while Foyn still held his monopoly in the 1870s, unofficial whaling stations popped up (one of the first competing companies was founded in Sandefjord, in southern Norway). When Foyn’s exclusive rights expired, a veritable whaling rush ensued. By the late 1880s, dozens of Norwegian whaling ships were prowling coastal waters, and catches skyrocketed – in just two years (1885–1886), over a thousand fin whales and nearly 150 blue whales were taken off Norway’s coast. This uncontrolled harvest began depleting local whale stocks, and coastal fishing communities began to notice changes.

    Conflicts soon arose between traditional fishermen and the new whaling industry. Northern fishermen, in particular, blamed whaling for poor fish catches – they believed the removal of whales (which some fishermen thought helped herd herring toward the coast) was one cause of dwindling fisheries. A notable incident was the Mehamn uprising, in which fishermen fought back against the whalers and destroyed the whaling stations. Whether or not the science behind this claim was sound, the economic rivalry was real. In the 1880s, Norwegian lawmakers, pressured by hundreds of petitioning fishermen, imposed the world’s first whaling restrictions to protect regional interests.

    Fun fact – the coat of arms of Sandefjord in Norway represents a whaler. 

    Sealing in the 1800s

    While whaling boomed, sealing continued to be an essential seasonal pursuit for Norwegians, particularly those from northern ports such as Tromsø. Throughout the 1800s, sealing fleets would depart every spring for the ice fields of the West Ice (off Greenland) and the East Ice (in the Barents Sea and White Sea). These sealers, often using sturdy sailing schooners, hunted harp seals and hooded seals for their pelts and oil. By the late 19th century, Tromsø had overtaken Hammerfest as the main base for Norwegian Arctic hunters, and an average of 20–30 Norwegian sealing ships sailed north each year.

    The sealing life was brutal and adventurous, immortalised in folk tales and the annals of polar exploration. (In fact, many famed Norwegian Arctic explorers – such as Otto Sverdrup and others – cut their teeth as sealing or whaling captains before embarking on expeditions.) The risks were enormous: ice could crush a ship or trap it for months.

    By 1900, both whaling and sealing had evolved from subsistence activities into significant commercial industries in Norway – one driven by technological innovation and industrial profit, the other a more traditional hunt still crucial to the livelihoods of northern communities. Both would soon face new pressures and opportunities as Norway entered the 20th century.

    Early Conservation Laws, Expansion, Exploitation & Regulation (1904)

    At the beginning of the 20th century, the Norwegian government decided to ban whaling in northern Norway for ten years, which ended in 1914. However, this didn’t stop the commercial whaling business. Instead, it encouraged Norwegian whalers to look abroad.

    In 1904, a group of Norwegians led by Captain C.A. Larsen established the first modern whaling station in the Antarctic – at Grytviken on South Georgia – under a British lease. This marked the start of Antarctic whaling, a frontier which Norwegians would dominate for decades. Soon, wholly Norwegian companies followed: between 1905 and 1907, several new firms, backed by investors from Sandefjord and Larvik, began hunting in the Southern Ocean. They were drawn by reports of unimaginably vast whale populations in the Antarctic seas and the potential to reap huge profits in whale oil. By the 1920s and 1930s, Norway was the world’s preeminent whaling nation. Norwegian factory ships and catcher fleets roamed from the South Atlantic to the Pacific. During this golden age of commercial whaling, Norway’s harvests were enormous – by the mid-1930s, Norwegian operations accounted for over half of all whales killed worldwide.

    The wealth from whaling helped industrialise and modernise parts of Norway; for instance, the town of Sandefjord flourished as a hub of the whaling industry, home to major companies and a harbour full of towering factory ships. This period also fostered national pride – Norwegian expeditions planted the flag on Antarctic soil, claiming Bouvet Island (1927) and Queen Maud Land (1939), partly to secure whaling rights in those areas. Whaling and polar exploration went hand in hand as Norway asserted itself on the world stage.

     

    Sealing in the early 20th century

    Sealing also hit its peak during this time. Norwegian sealers in the early 1900s were harvesting astonishing numbers of seals in the Arctic ice packs. Historical records indicate that around 1900, annual catches in the Greenland Sea (West Ice) were on the order of 120,000 seals, rising to 350,000 seals per year by the 1920s at the height of the industry. Norway and Russia together accounted for the bulk of this take. The economic depression of the 1930s, followed by wartime disruptions, reduced demand for seal products, and seal populations began to decline, prompting some restrictions. In the mid-20th century, seal stocks – especially hooded seals – declined significantly, crashing from an estimated one million animals in the 1950s to approximately 100,000 by the 1980s. This decline was attributed to overhunting and possibly environmental changes, and it foreshadowed the scrutiny the sealing industry would face in the future. By the 1940s and 1950s, sealing was still promoted by the Norwegian government, both for economic output and as a means to maintain settlement and activity in the far north. However, the hunt was increasingly regulated under quota systems to prevent the total collapse of seal herds. Technological change also arrived: older sail-powered seal ships gave way to diesel-powered vessels, such as the robust MS Havsel, and hunters began using rifles more than clubs as their primary weapons, both for efficiency and – eventually – to address animal welfare concerns.

    Changes to Attitudes in Whaling

    In the latter half of the 20th century, whaling and sealing in Norway came under growing pressure from changing public attitudes and international regulations. By the 1970s, global awareness of environmental issues and animal welfare had surged. Whales, in particular, went from being seen purely as commodities to being appreciated as intelligent, even sentient creatures deserving protection. The image of the whaler shifted in the public eye worldwide – from intrepid seaman to, increasingly, a man killing endangered giants of the sea. Environmental groups like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund led high-profile anti-whaling campaigns. Norwegian whaling, which by the 1970s was much reduced in scope, nonetheless became a target of protest. Activists staged dramatic direct actions, including attempts to obstruct whaling ships at sea. In one notorious incident in the 1980s, the radical group Sea Shepherd sabotaged Norwegian whaling vessels in harbor. This international outcry culminated in 1982 when the International Whaling Commission voted for a global moratorium on commercial whaling, which took effect in 1986. Under this IWC moratorium, all commercial whaling was to cease, though exceptions existed for scientific research hunts and indigenous subsistence whaling.

     

    Norway’s response to the whaling moratorium was complex. On the one hand, the Norwegian government agreed to pause commercial whaling in 1986, aligning with the IWC’s decision temporarily. On the other hand, Norway lodged a formal objection to the moratorium – a legal option that allowed it to resume whaling later without technically violating international law. Norwegian scientists argued that particular species, especially the North Atlantic minke whale, were not endangered and could be harvested sustainably. After conducting some years of research whaling (catches taken under the guise of science), Norway officially resumed limited commercial whaling in 1993, becoming the only country in the world to do so in defiance of the IWC ban (Japan and Iceland, by contrast, pursued “scientific” whaling before later following Norway’s lead back into open commercial whaling). Norwegian officials framed this as a matter of principle: a sovereign right to use marine resources in Norwegian waters sustainably.

    Whale Quotas & Modern Hunting

    Since the 1990s, Norway has set its own quotas for minke whale hunts, using IWC scientific assessments as a guideline but not being bound by IWC zero-catch rules. Typically a few hundred minkes are harvested by Norway each year by a small fleet of coastal whaling boats. The scale is a tiny fraction of mid-century whaling, yet it remains fiercely debated. Animal welfare advocates highlight that modern whale hunts, though improved with better harpoons, can still result in whales suffering if not killed instantly (by some estimates, a significant minority of whales do not die immediately from the first shot). Norwegian whalers and authorities counter that their methods are as humane as any slaughterhouse and that they continually research improvements in killing technology (for instance, developing more effective grenades for the harpoon).

    Within Norway, whaling occupies a complicated place in society. In certain coastal districts – notably in the Vestlandet and Nordland regions – small whaling communities see it as a proud tradition and a source of supplementary income. They stress that whaling has been part of Norwegian life “since Viking times,” forming a thread of continuity with ancestors who lived off the sea. Many Norwegians, even outside these communities, view the minke whale hunt as no more controversial than the slaughter of deer or livestock, emphasising that minke populations are healthy and that the meat is a traditional food. The Norwegian government often echoes these cultural and scientific justifications: it portrays Norway’s whaling as a sustainable use of a natural resource and as integral to the heritage of a seafaring nation. At the same time, public interest in eating whale meat has diminished over the decades.

    Whale meat was never a staple across all of Norway, and younger generations especially have less of an appetite for it. Demand has declined to the point that, in recent years, Norwegian whalers often struggle to sell all their catch. By the 2020s, only a handful of vessels, as few as eight or ten boats, take part in the annual whale hunt.

    Government-set quotas have been relatively high (around 900–1,200 minkes per year in the late 2010s and early 2020s), but actual catches are usually well below these ceilings due to low participation and market limitations. For example, in 2023 Norway allowed up to 1,000 minkes to be caught, but only about 507 were actually taken, with just nine boats active that season. This trend highlights that Norwegian commercial whaling today is a niche, small-scale industry – one sustained partly by government support and a sense of cultural stubbornness, even as economics alone might have led to its demise. Internationally, Norway faces constant criticism for continuing whaling. Anti-whaling NGOs argue that Norway’s hunt is unnecessary (the country is wealthy and food-secure without whale meat) and unethical, given the special status of whales as intelligent, migratory animals.

    The Decline of Sealing

    Sealing in Norway experienced a more dramatic decline in the late 20th century. What had once been a significant industry involving hundreds of ships and thousands of men virtually collapsed. Two main factors drove this: animal welfare activism and market economics. By the 1960s and 70s, graphic images of white-furred seal pups being clubbed on blood-stained ice floes ignited public horror around the world. Norway’s sealers were often portrayed in the media as villains, much as whalers were. This pressure yielded results.

    In 1983, the European Economic Community (precursor to the EU) banned the import of young harp seal pelts, known as the “whitecoat” pelts, thereby removing a significant market for the Canadian and Norwegian seal hunts. The demand for seal fur and oil continued to shrink thereafter. By 2009, the EU instituted a near-total ban on all commercial seal products (with exceptions only for indigenous hunts), a decision Norway and Canada unsuccessfully challenged at the World Trade Organisation. As a consequence, Norwegian sealing voyages became unprofitable. The Norwegian government has provided subsidies for some years to keep a token hunt alive – partly to support coastal communities and maintain traditional skills. But even subsidies could not fully compensate for collapsing demand. By the 1990s and 2000s, the number of active sealing vessels dwindled to only one or two.

    By the 2010s, Norway’s seal hunt had essentially reached an endpoint. A BBC report in 2017 chronicled how the MS Havsel, one of Norway’s last sealing ships, undertook what was billed as the “final” commercial sealing expedition to the Greenland ice floes (click here to read the article). The voyage was documented in a film, Sealers – One Last Hunt, described as an unapologetic tribute to an industry that, in its heyday a century earlier, sent over 200 vessels from Norway’s ports each spring. The documentary and local commentators lamented the end of an era, noting that the sealers and their ships had “shaped the economy of coastal Norway” in the north for generations.

    In northern towns like Tromsø, older residents still call the significance of the “selfangst” (seal catch)– it was a source of income, adventure, and communal identity. But times have changed. As one of the film’s producers observed, “People today buy meat in plastic packages and don’t want to see how animals are killed… Seal hunting is an old culture and tradition… better to eat seal than farmed chicken,” she argued, highlighting a view that seal meat is a local, natural food resource. Yet, economic reality won out. The Norwegian government eventually withdrew financial support, and without subsidies, sealing simply could not continue at any viable scale. By the late 2010s, virtually no Norwegian ships were engaged in seal hunting for commercial purposes. The practice that remains is minimal: a few coastal seal hunts of much smaller scope (e.g. controlled culls of coastal seals that impact fisheries, or limited hunts around Svalbard) and the continued indigenous sealing by Inuit in Greenland (which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, not Norway).

    Whaling in Norway Today

    The near disappearance of sealing and the decline of whaling in Norway reflect broader societal shifts. Norwegians today live in an affluent, modern society far removed from the hardscrabble coastal villages of old. However, the legacies of these industries continue to shape culture and policy in subtler ways. For instance, Norway remains a steadfast voice for the principle of sustainable use of marine resources. In international forums (whether it be the IWC or the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, which Norway helped establish in 1992), Norway consistently argues that scientifically managed whaling and sealing are legitimate. This outlook is rooted in Norway’s history and experience: Norwegians recall that for centuries, the bounty of the sea, from cod to whales and seals, sustained their nation and fueled their economy. Thus, even as few Norwegians today depend on whaling or sealing, there is a lingering national sentiment that outsiders should not dictate how Norway manages its marine wildlife.

    Polls often show a majority of Norwegians either support continued whaling or are indifferent, seeing it as a small-scale activity that does not threaten whale populations. Nevertheless, the cultural importance of whaling and sealing is visibly commemorated: Norway has multiple museums dedicated to whaling, such as the Sandefjord Whaling Museum, and exhibitions in Svalbard, and monuments stand in towns like Tromsø and Tønsberg honouring the whalemen and sealers of years past. These signify a respect for the toughness and enterprise of those workers, even as the practices themselves have largely faded.

    Eating Whale in Norway

    Some Norwegian grocery stores do carry whale meat (generally lean dark-red minke whale steaks), and older generations still prepare traditional dishes like hvalbiff (whale beef). Some whale is available in fish markets in Bergen or Tromsø, but it is typically there for tourists more than for locals. However, consumption is limited, and much of the whale catch now ends up exported to Japan – over a third of Norway’s whale meat is sold to Japan, since most other markets are closed or non-existent. This undermines the argument for feeding Norwegians; it makes the industry appear more like commercial opportunism. In one recent public debate in Lofoten, titled pointedly “Is whaling dead?”, even opponents conceded that outright bans are unlikely; instead, discussions focused on how to better regulate the industry and perhaps find new, ethical business models for coastal communities.

    Sealing in Norway Today

    Sealing’s contemporary relevance is more symbolic. The commercial industry is, for all intents and purposes, extinct in Norway. However, Norway still allows limited seal hunts in certain contexts. For example, each year a small quota of harbour seals and grey seals is set for Norwegian coastal waters, primarily to prevent those seal populations from increasing and impacting local fisheries (these are managed hunts often conducted by local fishermen under permit).

    In the Arctic, Norway also continues to set quotas for harp and hooded seals in the West Ice and East Ice zones, even though in many recent years, zero Norwegian vessels actually take part. It’s a bit of a formality – the infrastructure and manpower for large seal expeditions are gone. One might see it as Norway keeping the regulatory framework alive, perhaps in case markets or needs change in the future. Meanwhile, Indigenous sealing (in Greenland and arctic Canada) still goes on and Norway differentiates itself from that; Norwegian spokespeople at times underline that their objection is to commercial sealing bans, not subsistence hunting by Arctic peoples, which they agree should be respected. Nonetheless, Norway’s alignment with Canada in defending sealing internationally shows a lingering solidarity with the idea of seal hunting as a legitimate activity.

    Eating Seal in Norway

    I’ve only seen seal on the menu in two places – Tromsø and Longyearbyen. I tried it in Longyearbyen and wasn’t a fan at all. Still, it’s no longer commonly found on menus and is not something you’ll typically come across. 

    Seal oil is found a lot in fish markets, especially in Bergen. Chinese tourists in particular buy a lot of seal oil when they visit. 

    Summing up Whaling & Sealing in Norway

    In Norwegian culture, the historical significance of sealing and whaling has left lasting traces. Songs, literature, and local museums preserve the memory of the polar heroes who were whalers and sealers. For instance, in many northern fishing villages, one can find the graves of men lost at sea on seal hunts and monuments honouring them. The ethos of those industries – courage, hardship, and self-reliance – has blended into

    Today’s Norwegians primarily see whales and seals as part of their natural environment to appreciate – it’s not uncommon to find Norwegians conflicted, proud that their country stands up for its traditions, yet they might have never eaten whale or seal meat and may feel compassion for these animals. This nuanced perspective is part of what makes the issue so persistent.

    In summary, the history of whaling and sealing in Norway is a journey from subsistence to industry to cultural flashpoint. What began as age-old coastal practices evolved into substantial industries by the early 20th century, significantly contributing to Norway’s economy, communities, and international presence. Norwegian technological innovations changed global whaling forever, and Norwegian ships once dominated the Antarctic seas in search of leviathans. In the Arctic ice, generations of seal hunters forged a rugged living that became the stuff of legend. Over time, the overuse of resources led to decline, and the evolving human values brought condemnation. By the 1980s, these hunts had become as much about politics and identity as about economics. Entering the 21st century, Norway finds itself holding on to the last vestiges of a controversial past.

    The influence of whaling and sealing today is thus less about direct economic impact (which is minimal) and more about shaping Norway’s policies and self-image. They force Norwegians to reckon with questions: How do we balance tradition against modern ethics? How do we honour our history yet adapt to current realities? In grappling with these questions, Norway’s experience with whaling and sealing offers a microcosm of the broader tension between cultural heritage and conservation in the modern world. It demonstrates that the echoes of historical practices can ring loud in present-day debates, and it ensures that the saga of Norway’s whalers and sealers – from the fjords of Tromsø to the pack ice of Greenland to the whaling stations of South Georgia – remains an enduring chapter in the story of Norway.

    Whaling and Sealing Resources

  • Lofoten Islands, Museums

    Visiting the Viking Museum at Borg in Lofoten

    Visiting the Viking Museum at Borg

    The Borg Viking Museum is one of the most fascinating museums about the Viking Age. It brings the Viking Age to life through archaeological finds, immersive experiences, and historic reconstructions. Nestled in the dramatic Lofoten Islands region, the museum is a highlight of any road trip through Lofoten.

    This museum isn’t your standard history museum. Here, you can participate in activities, sail a Viking ship, visit the largest Viking home ever discovered, see archaeological finds, learn Viking arts and crafts, eat Viking food, and try the drink of the gods: mead.

    I’ve brought groups to the Viking Museum a few times. The most popular part is the longhouse, where you can get hands-on and feel like a Viking. However, I always preferred the archaeological museum. As you can see, the museum has something for everyone!

    I’ve compiled this guide to help you make the most of your time at the Viking Museum in Borg. 

    In this article...

    Svolvær Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Archaeological Discovery

    In 1983, while a farmer was ploughing his fields, remains of what were believed to be a Viking settlement were discovered at Borg in Lofoten. The excavation lasted around six years, and during the excavation the largest Viking longhouse was discovered. Archaeologists realized that this was the home of a powerful Viking chieftain who had ruled Lofoten. The settlement was dated to around 500AD and was in use until 950AD, when it was abandoned. The large amount of wealthy items showed that this was a powerful home, and that they were trading with people from far away. There are several different sites in the area, indicating that there were settlements before and after the Viking times. When the excavation was concluded, it was decided to turn the site into a museum and reconstruct the longhouse. This became the Viking Museum as we have it today!

    What You See at the Museum

    There’s a lot to see and do here, especially in summer. The museum consists of the following:
    – A full-scale reconstruction of the Viking longhouse
    – Two Viking ships
    – Two exhibition halls
    – A movie theatre
    – A blacksmiths forge
    – Boathouses
    – Two cafes
    – Souvenir shop
    Animals

    The Longhouse

    The reconstructed longhouse is based on finds at the nearby archaeological site. Measuring over 80 metres in length (the size of the archaeological find), the reconstruction has been built using traditional materials and techniques. Inside, the house is divided into different sections showing different aspects of Viking life. 80 metres in length, the original structure was unearthed during an excavation in the 1980s. The replica has been constructed using traditional materials and techniques. Inside, the longhouse is divided into different sections showing different aspects of Viking life, from communal living spaces to storerooms and a feast all. In the summer months, and sometimes in the winter, there are staff dressed up to resemble Vikings and they will talk about their life in this building.

    The house is divided into different sections, as it would’ve been during Viking times. The living quarters is where everyone slept and where work was done, and food was cooked. The feast hall was the centre of events and where celebrations and rituals took place. The most precious finds from the excavation were concentrated at the feast hall. The barn during the Viking Age would’ve been for livestock. In the current reconstruction, it has an exhibition of sculptures and figures from Norse mythology.

    Inside you’ll find people dressed up in Viking costume doing handicrafts or explaining Viking culture.

    You can learn more about the longhouse here: https://www.museumnord.no/en/stories/the-chieftains-house-at-borg/

    While in the longhouse, you can participate in hands-on activities, including traditional crafts such as weaving or blacksmithing, or you can play Viking games. During the summer months, the museum has live demonstrations of Viking combat techniques, shipbuilding, and other skills.

    2020 me sure made the Vikings look very, very uncool!

    Outdoor Attractions

    The walk down to the harbour area takes around twenty minutes, and it’s important to know that it is not open in the winter months. The museum has two Viking ships (copies of the Gokstad ship in Oslo), a reconstructed forge, a boathouse and ironworks. The ships do scenic cruises in the summertime. Also, in summer you can try your hand at some Viking warrior and hunting skills. There are two stations where you can try shooting with a bow and arrow and learn how to throw an ax at a target. In Viking times, the blacksmith had an important role, making arrowheads and spearheads, iron rivets and other tools in use around the settlement.

    There is even a farm here! You can see various historic breeds, including Nordland horses, Nordland cattle, wild sheep, and wild boar.

    You can find more information (and a map) here: https://www.lofotr.no/en/outdoor-area/

    Indoor Museum

    Back indoors, you can visit the indoor exhibition to see items that were found during the excavation. These include tools, jewellery, and weaponry. The indoor exhibition is divided into three parts. Firstly, there is a room about the discovery and excavation of the longhouse. Then, you watch a film about the people and events at Borg during the Viking Age. Finally, there is the collection of archaeological finds from Borg. The movie, “The Dream of Borg”, is honestly a little cheesy – but I like it anyway! The film is based on interpretations of the Viking King Olav Tvennumbrunni and the unification of Norway under one king, and recreates an interpretation of the life and atmosphere of Borg during the Viking Age.

    It’s recommended to use the audio guide here, as the guide tells the story of the discovery here and explains in detail what you’re looking at.

    You can get a detailed overview of the Viking finds here: https://www.lofotr.no/en/archaeological-finds/

    Lofotr Viking Festival

    Every year in August, the Lofotr Viking Festival is held. There are games, stories, competitions, a market, theatre, music and more. There are also courses and educational activities.

    Viking Feast

    Every evening the museum offers a special Viking-style dinner. You can find out more information on their website: https://www.lofotr.no/en/food-drink/

    Practical Information

    Local Name

    Lofotr Vikingmuseum

    Admission Prices

    Tickets vary according to the season (at the moment they are 200 NOK in winter and 250 NOK in summer per person). Discounts are available for students and seniors.

    You can find the current ticket prices here: https://www.lofotr.no/en/find-us/

    Opening Hours

    The museum is open all year round, but hours vary depending on the season. You can find current opening hours here: https://www.lofotr.no/en/find-us/

    Audio Guides

    The audio guide system has translations in Norwegian, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. You load it up onto your smart phone and then connect to the free wifi.

    Guided Tours

    If you can, I encourage booking a guided tour. Your guide will greet you at the museum entrance and he/she will be dressed up in the Viking gear. Their knowledge is excellent and really brings the setting to life.

    Facilities

    The museum shop here is excellent, especially if you want something Viking themed. You can by jewellery based on the excavations, a Viking Age board game called Hnefatafl, wooden swords, children’s toys, shirts, knitted goods, soap, creams, foodstuffs, and a huge selection of bookings about the Vikings in all languages.

    There are two cafes here. Skjeltersjåen is located by the Vikingship harbour and has various Viking style dishes as well as hot and cold drinks. This café only opens in the summer. In the main museum building is the museum café, with meals prepared according to ingredients available to the Vikings. There’s also hot and cold drinks, waffles and ice cream.

    Parking

    There is a large parking lot by the museum. To get to the museum, a bit of up-hill walking is involved. 

    Final Thoughts on the Viking Museum at Borg

    The Borg Viking Museum is more than just another history museum; it is a fascinating way to learn about the Viking Age. Through its combination of educational exhibitions, interactive experiences, and spectacular surroundings, the museum has is a must-see in Lofoten.

    I love museums that are interactive and have actual objects from the time period. I’m not a fan of screens and replicas. While the longhouse isn’t original, the amount of effort and love that has gone into it makes it very good to see. Also, the fact that it’s where a Viking longhouse was discovered brings a lot to the authenticity of the structure.

    Svolvær Travel Guide

    Be sure to check out my Svolvær travel guide! Here you can find all my recommendations of things to do and see, plus practical information for visiting the Lofoten Islands. 

  • Museums, Tromsø

    The Polar Museum in Tromsø

    The Polar Museum in Tromsø

    The Polar Museum in Tromsø is a renowned museum that offers an immersive experience into the rich history of Arctic exploration and the polar regions. The museum commemorates Tromsø’s important role as a gateway for Arctic expeditions and highlights the stories of explorers, hunters and scientists who ventured into the challenging Arctic region.

    I’ve been to the Polar Museum several times, and truly believe that it’s a must-see when visiting Norway. So, here’s my practical guide for visiting the Polar Museum in Tromsø. 

    In this article...

    Norway's Coastal Ferry

    Tromsø is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below. 

    Norway's Coastal Ferry
    Tromsø Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    About the Museum

    The Polar Museum in Tromsø officially opened on the 18th of June 1978, the 50th anniversary of Roald Amundsens fateful flight aboard the “Latham”.

    With its location in the Arctic, Tromsø has served as the gateway to the Arctic for adventurers, hunters and researchers.

    The museum is located in the former customs house in Tromsø. The building dates back to 1830, and was used as a bonded warehouse to the customs authorities until the 1970s. The museum also owns the neighbouring building, which was built in 1840. It was also used as a customs house but is now the museum’s administration building.

    Inside the Museum

    As you can see, the museum is quite small and can get crowded – especially in the afternoons!

    Layout of the Museum

    The layout of the museum is as follows:

    Ground Floor:
    Room 1: Trapping in the Arctic
    Room 2: Svalbard in the 1600s and 1700s
    Room 3: Hunting Situation
    Room 4: Seal Hunting – Zoological Exhibition
    Room 5: Seal Hunting

    1st Floor:
    Room 6: Aircrafts & the Arctic
    Room 7: Henry Rudi & Wanny Woldstad
    Room 8: Walrus Hunting & Polar Bear Hunting
    Room 9: Roald Amundsen
    Room 10: Fridtjof Nansen

    Most text displays are in Norwegian, but there are printed documents with translations into English. You can’t take them with you, however. They are wonderfully detailed, so I actually took photos of all of them so I could read them later.

     

    What the information boards look like. It’s a little tricky to read as it’s quite far away (unless you have amazing eyesight!). 

    Hunting & Trapping

    The first exhibition is about Arctic hunting and trapping. It explores the traditions of Arctic hunters and trappers who braved extreme conditions for survival and trade. Here you can see tools, weapons and artifacts related to seal hunting, the trapping of polar bears and Arctic foxes, as well as the fur trade. The information goes into detail about how they survived, especially in the difficult winters.

    The exhibits are wonderfully built. I think this is why I love older museums; there was so much work put into creating displays. New museums (in my opinion) rely too much on tech. But here, at the Polar Museum, you can step into a trappers cabin and see exactly what it looked like. They also have all the tools and furs out on display.

    While some scenes may be shocking, it’s important to remember that the world was different 200 years ago, and for many this was their only way to make a living. And, this far north, this type of meat was much fresher than bringing something up from the south.

    On the walls you’ll find dozens of photos of actual trapping and hunting that took place. Some of them have captions in English, but not all of them. Some also include captions in German.

    These are the translated guides that you have to carry with you. But look below to see how detailed it is!

    Svalbard

    I love Svalbard (I have a whole section dedicated to Svalbard on the website! Click here to see it), and the Svalbard Museum provides an even better overview than what you get in the Polar Museum. Still, this exhibition provides an excellent overview of Svalbard and may even encourage you to book a trip there. The exhibition on Svalbard provides a historic overview of the region and how it came to be a hub for Arctic hunting and exploration.

    Seal Hunting

    There is a special section in the museum dedicated to seal hunting. Seal hunting is quite controversial in Norway today, but is a very small industry. The only place I’ve seen seal meat for sale was in Svalbard. Still, this exhibition provides context into why seal hunting was happening, how it worked, and what the seal was used for. There are displays showing all the different types of seal skins, the process of seal hunting, and then seal hunting in modern times and the controversies that come with it. I particularly like the displays showing all the different navigational tools that were used to get to Svalbard (it’s in the same area as the seal hunting).

    Polar Bears & Airships

    Upstairs you’ll see some models of the various airships that were used in the polar exploration missions. There are even photos on display, including one of the well-known airship Norge, which departed from Vadsø to fly over the North Pole. Most of the text on the wall here is only in Norwegian, making it challenging to follow in English.

    Next to it is an exhibition on polar bear hunting, another controversial topic that does not happen anymore. Still, seeing and learning about how these trappers caught polar bears is quite impressive!

    Arctic Explorers

    On the upper floor the main focus is the polar expeditions, which I find to be one of the highlights of the museum. Here you can learn about the Arctic explorers such as Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Their pioneering efforts in navigating uncharted territories and advancing polar science are celebrated with maps, photographs, and equipment. The museum especially focuses on Tromsø as a departure point for Arctic missions and its role in supporting the explorers.

    Here you’ll see items that belonged to these iconic explorers, as well as photographs of their missions and diaries they kept on their travels. The English booklets go onto wonderful detail about each polar explorer and break down all their missions. Again, it’s a perfect thing to take a photo of to read later!

    Tromsø Historic Photos

    As you leave the exhibition to make your way back to the lobby, you’ll find some excellent historic photos of Tromsø. It’s incredible to see how small the town was just 150 years ago.

    Practical Information

    Local name

    Polarmuseet

    Getting Here

    The Polar Museum is located approximately 15-20 minutes on foot from the Coastal Ferry Terminal. It’s approximately five minutes from the end of the main shopping street, Storgata. The museum is located by the fish market on the harbour. 

    Admission & Prices

    You can view up-to-date prices by visiting their website: https://en.uit.no/tmu/polarmuseet

    Opening Hours

    The museum is open daily, with the opening hours being 11am to 5pm in the winter. 

    I recommend checking their website for up-to-date opening hours: https://en.uit.no/tmu/polarmuseet/planlegg

    Facilities

    There is no cafe here, but there is a lovely gift shop. The gift shop is excellent and has a huge selection of books on the Arctic. You can also pick up beautiful locally made souvenirs. 

    Guided Tours

    During the summer (1 June to 15 August), there are guided tours of the museum at 1pm. I do recommend going; the guides help put everything in context.

    Accessibility

    Unfortunately, since this is an old building, the museum is only wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, as there’s a set of stairs to the second floor. Even so, the ground floor is very narrow and can be crowded, so it’s not easy to navigate through.

    Final Thoughts on the Polar Museum

    Overall, I believe the Polar Museum is an important institution educating visitors about the Arctic’s history, wildlife, and the human spirit of exploration. It also underscores Tromsø’s identity as the Arctic capital and provides a sobering reflection on humanity’s interactions with the polar environment. While you may not agree with all the practices that took place here, it’s important to understand why and how it happened.

    The museum is a must on any visit to Tromsø!

    Tromsø Travel Guide

    Be sure to check out my Tromsø travel guide! Here you can find all my recommendations of things to do and see, plus practical information for visiting the beautiful Arctic capital. 

  • Museums, Turku

    The Aboa Vetus Museum – Finland’s Only Archaeological Museum

    The Aboa Vetus Museum - Finland's Only Archaeological Museum

    I love a good ruins museum. I go to practically every one I can – including the Christiansborg ruins in Copenhagen and the Medieval Museum in Stockholm. When I ventured out to Turku for the day, visiting the Aboa Vetus Museum was on my to do list.

    The museum itself isn’t so large, but it does provide a fascinating insight into what life was like in Finland in old times. This is especially interesting as there aren’t that many historic sites like this in Finland; the country was agricultural and largely a peasant society for hundreds of years. So, to see ruins like this in Turku is a real treat.

    What makes this museum even more interesting is that it is the only medieval & archaeological museum in Finland. 

    Here’s my guide to the museum and what you can see here.

    Aboa Vetus Museum in Turku

    Turku Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Turku, including practical information and things to do. 

    About the Aboa Vetus Museum

    The museum opened in 1995 as two independent museums. Originally the plan was to only build Ars Nova, the contemporary art museum. However, during the construction several artefacts and structures dating back to the Middle Ages were discovered. This led to a major archaeological excavation that was commissioned and eventually transformed into the museum Aboa Vetus.

    In 2004, the two museums were combined. Today they are among the most popular tourist venues in the entire region of Southwest Finland.

    Aboa Vetus is the only archaeological museum in Finland and is known for its archaeological activities. After the initial excavations in the 1990s, the museum has continued archaeological research since 2005. Public engagement and community archaeology have a pivotal role in the museum. Research is done by both archaeologists and engaged volunteers.

    The name "Aboa Vetus"

    The names of the museum can seem a little strange, and I promise it’s not the Finnish name for the centre. Rather, the names come from the Latin words “Aboa Vetus”, meaning the “Old City of Turku”, and “Ars Nova”, referring to modern art.

     

    About the Building

    The building was built in 1928 and was a palace for a prominent family constructed by a tobacco manufacturer called Hans von Rettig. The palace now houses the museum.

    Entering the building itself is impressive – you see the ruins as soon as you go in!

    How These Buildings Became Ruins

    It’s worth mentioning that Turku used to be the second largest in the realm of Sweden and the largest city in Finland. Turku emerged as a centre of trade, religion and administration.

    The medieval city of Turku was largely built by the German traders who came here, and it was governed by both the Germans and the Crown and its officers. At its peak, Turku was a medium-sized town in the Baltic region, the second-largest town in the Swedish realm, and the religious, economic, military and administrative centre of Finland.

    The population was up to 3,000 people. There were German burgher leaders, Swedish-speaking burghers, and the nobility living here, along with the educated people, who were typically Swedish-speaking. Artisans consisted of Finnish or Swedish-speaking craftsmen, master builders and shippers. The Finnish-speaking servant class also incorporated craftsmen, fishermen, shepherds, builders, brick molders, carpenters, maids, comb makers, sailors, sauna attendants and the executioner.

    After the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, most of the city had to rebuilt. During the rebuilding process, the ruins of the medieval city were buried underground.

    What You See in the Museum

    In the museum you learn about medieval history and archaeology in Turku. Old Turku was divided into four districts. Aboa Vetus is in one of the quarters. This quarter is the Convent Quarter – it was where the wealthy merchants and craftsmen who built grand houses of stones and bricks.  Items found during the excavations, such as pieces of ceramics belonging to tiled stoves, splinters of expensive glass and gold rings, show signs of luxury.

     

    The museum exhibits archaeological finds that tell the story of Turku and its development. The exhibition includes the ruins of the old medieval church, cemetery, streets and city walls of Turku. One of the examples is the old cellar, which was built in the 15th century as a house extension. After the Great Fire of Turku, the building became part of a bathhouse, with the building housing the water tanks. The buildings are recreated beautifully – for example, on the ruins of the medieval church are light projections showing where the arches would’ve been.

    The displays are well-written and provide useful information about each building. Besides the ruins, there are display objects showcasing various objects they have been found. For example, there is a display with keys from the 13th century. Underneath is a description of how windows were constructed during that period. Some of the displays are written from the perspective of people who would’ve lived here. 

    Particularly fascinating is the section of goods indicating the importance of trade from other countries. For example, stoneware jugs from Rhine in Germany and glass from the present-day Czech Republic and Venice were found here. After smoking tobacco arrived in Turku in the early 17th century, townsmen smoked claypipes made in the Netherlands. In the 18th century, fine porcelain came all the way from China. However, the most important imported product was salt. Other food products included grain, dried fish, wine, spices, sugar and coffee. Products exported from Turku included hides, butter, lard, seal oil, wooden dishes and timber.

    There is also a special exhibition about the Hanseatic merchants who were coming to Turku, and a large part of Turku’s plan is thanks to them.

    There are also interactive elements such as excavations where visitors can explore the city for themselves.

    Practical Information

    Local name

    Aboa Vetus

    Getting Here

    The museum is located in the city centre of Turku, so it’s very easy to get there on foot. 

    Admission & Prices

    You can view up-to-date prices by visiting their website: https://avan.fi/en/opening-hours-and-tickets

    Opening Hours

    The museum is open all year round and is typically closed on Mondays.

    You can view up-to-date opening hours on their website:

    https://avan.fi/en/opening-hours-and-tickets

    Facilities

    There is a café and museum shop where you can buy souvenirs and gifts. The café is excellent and is open daily from 11am – 6pm and serves a great lunch buffet.

    Guided Tours

    The museum offers guided tours in several languages, and you can buy a ticket in advance online or on the spot.

    There are also QR codes on the buildings that link to more detailed information, so you can also take your own self-guided tour. 

    Enjoy your visit to the Aboa Vetus Museum!

    Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or contact me at emma@thehiddennorth.com if you need help planning a trip to Finland!

    Turku Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Turku, including practical information and things to do. 

  • Museums, Stockholm

    The Vasa Museum Stockholm – Scandinavia’s Most Visited Museum

    The Vasa Museum Stockholm

    I always visit the Vasa Museum when I am in Stockholm. Perhaps it’s because every group tour passes through there, but honestly I would go on my own too. During COVID, when I was doing virtual tours, I was even given special permission to do a virtual tour around the museum. Over 500 people tuned in – it was awesome!

    Why do I love the museum? So many reasons. But I think it’s the sheer scale of the Vasa ship that you feel as soon as you step in. The ship is incredibly well-preserved and that alone fascinates me. But the museum is also well-planned and has a number of wonderful things to do.

    Here is my guide for the best way to utilise your time in the Vasa Museum. 

    Vasa Museum Stockholm

    Stockholm Travel Guide
    Sweden Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Stockholm, including practical information and things to do. 

    About the Vasa Museum

    The Vasa Museum opened in 1990 and has quickly become the most visited museum in Scandinavia. Inside you’ll see the Vasa ship – the world’s best-preserved 17th century ship and one of the most valuable historic artefacts from the time period in Scandinavia. 

    History of the Vasa Ship

    Vasa is a completely unique historic artefact. The ship was constructed between 1626 and 1628 under the orders of King Gustavus Adolphus as part of the military expansion he initiated in a war with Poland-Lithuania (1621-1629). The ship was richly decorated as a symbol of the king’s ambitions for Sweden and himself, and upon completion she was one of the most-armed vessels in the world. 

    However, there were problems. Big problems!

    Vasa, as beautiful as she was, was just too top heavy. Construction had been rushed and overly ambitious. A single gust of wind was enough to topple her. 

    The Vasa ship sank roughly 1,300 metres (1,400 yards) into her maiden voyage on the 10th of August 1628. Most of the bronze canyons were salvaged, but otherwise the ship sat at the bottom of the Baltic Sea for a little over 300 years.

    Vasa was located in the late 1950s and the ship was salvaged with a fully intact hull in 1961. 98% of the ship is original and is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. 

    If you want to learn more about the history of Vasa, the museum website has a fantastic timeline: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/explore/vasa-history/timeline

    Constructing the Museum

    Originally the ship was housed in a temporary structure and she was continuously treated with polyethylene glycol. There was a possibility for visitors to view her, but there were only two levels for people to stand and visibility was limited.

    In 1981, the Swedish government decided that a permanent museum should be constructed. An architectural competition was held, and 284 architects sent in models of their ideas. The winners were Marianne Dahlback and Goran Mansson. 

    The museum was built around a dry dock, and the Vasa was towed into the flooded dry dock under the new building in December 1987. 

    The museum has a large copper roof with stylised masts representing the height of the Vasa when she was fully rigged. 

    The Main Hall & the Exhibitions

    When you enter the museum, you enter into the main hall. The Vasa stands there towering over you, and it is incredible. 

    You have the chance to walk around the ship from the ground level before continuing to the exhibitions. On the ground level is a small model of the Vasa ship too. 

    There are exhibitions on each of the six floors related to the Vasa but also including archaeological finds from the ships. Archaeological finds include two original cannons, various tools and personal items, and objects used on the ship. The displays are interactive and allow you to learn about the ships history and construction. 

    Highlights for me are firstly the exhibition about the statues on the ship and the original paint colours the ship had. Another highlight is the section where they have recreated part of the ships interior to help you understand what life was like on board. 

    Vasa Ship Movie

    It is well worth starting with the movie when you arrive at the museum, as it perfectly encapsulates the history of the Vasa, recovering the ship, and the work they are doing to preserve the ship. After the movie, try to join one of the guided tours before exploring independently. See information below for guided tours. The movie only lasts for 17 minutes so it’s easy to fit in with your visit.

    You can plan your movie screening ahead of time: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/filmen-about-vasa

    How to Plan Your Visit

    How do plan a Vasa visit? First, order your ticket online in advance. After that, find the movie time that suits you and aim to get there maybe 20 minutes before the movie starts. Drop off your bags at the lockers and then head into the movie. 

    After the movie, join a guided tour. When the guided tour ends, wander the various exhibits. Then you can head to the restaurant or shop!

    Practical Information

    Swedish name

    Vasamuseet

    Getting Here

    The Vasa Museum is located on the island Djurgården in the eastern part of Stockholm city centre. The museum is located behind the large brick Nordic Museum. Tram line number 7 goes past the Vasa Museum.

    The Vasa Museum is located close to the ABBA Museum, Skansen open-air museum and the Nordic Museum, so you can spend the full day out on Djurgården. 

    Admission & Prices

    Up-to-date prices can be found on the Vasa Museum website: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/hours–admission

    Note that the prices vary depending on what time of year you visit. 

    Book your tickets in advance! You’ll avoid having to stand in line for a ticket on the day. When booking online, just select the day you are visiting – there’s no exact time you have to book in advance. The tickets are fully refundable.

    When buying online, you can buy combination tickets with other museums close to Vasa. 

    The museum is cash free, so if you are planning on doing some spending be sure to have your card ready. 

    Travelling with Kids

    The museum has a special trail for kids to follow when they are in the museum. They also have a film called the “Vasa Piglet” which is based on a picture book and tells the story of the Vasa ship in a much different way.

    Read more about kids activities here: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/kids–families

    Opening Hours

    Try to go outside of busy times (middle of the day) as in summer it gets packed in there. If you want to avoid crowds, either visit the museum as soon as it opens or an hour or two before closing. During the school year you are likely to run into groups, while during school holidays there are lots of families there.

    In general, the museum is open daily between 10am and 5pm. On Wednesdays, the museum is open untl 8pm.

    You can find up-to-date opening hours on the museum website: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/hours–admission

    Bags

    Large bags are not allowed into the museum. They have lockers in the main hall that you can use for free. 

    Guided Tours

    The guides at Vasa are excellent and highly trained, and joining one of their tours ensures you’ll get to hear the best of the ships story. They have public guided tours throughout the day, or you can opt to book a private tour. I have never been disappointed with a guided tour at Vasa.

    The guided tours are included in the ticket price and English-language tours run more or less every 30 minutes. You can find more information here: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/guided-tours

    Wifi

    The museum has free Wifi

    Wifi

    An audio guide in different languages is available. You can find the audio guide here: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/audioguide

    Accessibility

    The museum is accessible to visitors with disabilities. Lifts are available on all the floors, and wheelchairs can be borrowed at the information desk.
    Read more about accessibility here: https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/accessibility

    Restaurant

    The restaurant inside the museum has standard diner food (sandwiches, meatballs, soups) but is quite nice. Children’s portions are available at a reduced price. For traditional Swedish fika (coffee break), there are cakes, buns and cookies. All food is prepared with Swedish ingredients.

    Gluten or lactose free options can be ordered in advance, just contact the restaurant. mail: info@vasamuseetsrestaurang.se

    Museum Shop

    The souvenir shop is excellent. There’s a vast range of books, kits to build your own Vasa, toys, shirts, and even toy rats!

    Enjoy your visit to the Vasa Museum Stockholm!

    Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or contact me at emma@thehiddennorth.com if you need help planning a trip to Sweden!

    Stockholm Travel Guide
    Sweden Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Stockholm, including practical information and things to do. 

  • Museums, Oslo

    Visiting the Resistance Museum in Oslo

    The Resistance Museum Oslo - Norway's Most Important WWII Museum

    The Resistance Museum Oslo is one of the main museums about World War II in Norway. The war in Norway is not often talked about on a global scale, but the impact on the country was huge. Norway was the most occupied country in Europe and a large part of the country above the Arctic Circle was destroyed when the Nazis retreated in 1944/45. Because of the heavy occupation on a relatively young country, there was a huge resistance movement that performed various acts of sabotage.

    Whenever I am in Oslo with a group this is one of the museums I recommend. Many of us from outside of Europe haven’t heard about the severe impact of the war on Norway, and this museum is incredibly eye-opening and informative. It’s well presented and provides a good overview of the war. It is especially worth visiting if you are planning on visiting multiple cities in Norway. 

    Here’s my overview of the Resistance Museum in Oslo. 

    Resistance Museum Oslo

    Oslo Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Oslo, including practical information and things to do. 

    Establishment of the Resistance Museum in Oslo

    The museum was founded in 1962 by several key representatives from organisations made up of civilians and military personnel. Originally, it was a private foundation. The museum opened to the public in May 1970 and Crown Prince Harald was in attendance. The opening coincided with the 25th anniversary of Norwegian liberation. The museum was designed by Otto Torgersen, who worked with key personnel representing various branches of the underground forces. In 1995, the museum was handed over to the State by the Ministry of Defence.

    The museums founders wanted to strengthen the collective will to protect national freedom and otherwise contribute to a continued support for Norwegian democratic values. Additionally, it was important to strengthen knowledge about the years of occupation for future generations and research.

    Location & Building

    The museum is housed in a building that forms part of the Akershus Fortress complex. The fortress was used by the Nazis as a prison and torture centre and executions of Norwegians took place in the courtyard by the Resistance Museum. After the war, Quisling was executed by firing squad at the fortress.

    To get here, you have to enter the fortress complex and make your way up the cobblestone path towards the main Akershus Fortress museum. The Resistance Museum is located just before the main museum. The walk is a little steep for some to get here. There is a staircase up to the museum, or you can follow the ramp path up as well.

    Akershus Fortress Self-Guided Walk

    We have a self-guided walk around Akershus Fortress, which includes the Resistance Museum. 

    View self-guided walk

    Exhibitions

    The exhibitions have recreated five years of occupation through pictures, documents, posters, objects, models, original copies of newspapers and recordings. The exhibition begins with the day Norway is invaded on the 9th of April 1940 and ends with the liberation on the 8th of May 1945.

    What I like about the museum is that it doesn’t just focus on one element of the war, even though the name ‘Resistance Museum’ may make it sound like it’s only about the resistance. Rather, it places the war in a wider context, ranging from military aspects to the everyday life of ordinary citizens. I also appreciate the museum isn’t so high tech with iPads and televisions everywhere. Yes, you get some interesting home-made dioramas, but I find it charming. In many ways, it’s an ‘old fashioned’ museum in the best way possible.

    The Resistance Museum celebrates the effort of the Norwegian resistance, highlighting key events like the Vemork power plant sabotage but also telling the story of the everyday acts of resistance. The museum also covers the tragic sides of the war, including the reign of terror of the SS and Gestapo and the prison and concentration camps that were in Norway, along with the deportation of Norwegian Jews.

    There are English translations for most of the items on display, but items like newspapers or posters have not been translated into English.

    Practical Information

    Getting Here

    The closest tram stop to the museum is Kontraskjæret, which is where tram line 12 stops.

    You do have to walk into the fortress complex to access the museum, and there is some uphill walking involved to get there. It takes up to 15 minutes to get to the museum from the tram stop.

    Taxis can’t drive you up to the museum. 

    The museum is well-signed once you enter the fortress. 

    Prices

    Up-to-date prices can be found on the museum website:  https://kultur.forsvaret.no/museer/norges-hjemmefrontmuseum

    There are good discounts for seniors and groups with more than 10 people. 

    Opening Hours

    Up-to-date opening hours can be found on the museum website: https://kultur.forsvaret.no/museer/norges-hjemmefrontmuseum

    In summer, they are open daily from 10am – 5pm. In winter, the opening hours are shorter. 

    Time in the Museum

    Depending on how much you want to read, allow between 45 and 90 minutes inside the museum. It’s not a large museum, but there are many interesting things to look at!

    Museum Shop

    I love a good museum shop, and this one is up there. Of course, they only really sell books about the war. Still, the selection of books in English is fantastic. There’s also a good section of books in Norwegian and other languages as well.

    Oslo Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Oslo, including practical information and things to do. 

  • Finland, Museums, Turku

    Turku Castle: Finland’s Most Important Historic Site

    Turku Castle: Finland’s Most Important Historic Site

    Turku, Finland’s historic capital, is located on the west coast towards Sweden. Located on an island out into the bay is Turku Castle, a medieval castle that was founded in the 13th century as a bastion and administrative centre for Finland during the union with Sweden. It’s easy to visit Turku Castle from Helsinki for the day, or make it part of your visit to Turku.

    I visited Turku Castle on a cold winter day in February 2022 and found it fascinating. Helsinki is such a modern city (by comparison), so I didn’t think there were many of these historic places to be seen in Finland. Turku certainly proved me wrong, and this Castle is an excellent example of Nordic medieval castles.

    Here’s my guide to Turku Castle, including its historic importance and the exhibitions inside.

    Turku Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide

    In this article...

    History of Turku Castle

    Transformation to Living Quarters

    Eventually Turku Castle’s position shifted as various Duke’s were given control over the Castle. It was decided to expand the castle into more of a living quarters. The first major renovation took place in the 14th century. A kitchen and bakery were also added to the Castle. By the end of the century, Turku Castle was one of the largest and most important castles in the Nordic countries.

    In the 15th century one of the most remembered residents came and left his touch on the Cathedral. During the reign of Sten Sture the Elder, the castle underwent major changed during the most extensive construction works of the Middle Ages in Finland. Most importantly, the Catholic Church, known today as Sture Church, was built in the Castle. The Great Castle Hall was also expanded to two naves.

    The Vasas & the Renaissance Palace

    The next important residents were the Vasa. When Gustav Vasa became King of Sweden in the 16th century, he had Turku Castle expanded to include the bailey. He had visited the Castle and found it outdated and unpleasant. The Castle was also given a more Renaissance feel following German, Spanish and Polish examples. The Renaissance part of the Castle is known for being unique in Finnish conditions and was the only example of Renaissance-style court life in Finland. Since then, the Castle has never been added or extended, just repaired.

    Gustav Vasa’s younger son, Johan, moved into the Castle to serve as Duke of Finland. He had parties in the Castle as well as tournaments. His wife, Catherine, brought jewels, gold, velvet, curtains, tapestries, nightwear, and forks to the Castle, all of which had not really been seen in Finland before. Around 600 people worked at the Castle under Johan.

    Johan’s older brother, Erik, was King of Sweden and the two brothers did not get along. At the time, Sweden was at war with Poland, and Catherine was a Polish princess. Erik’s forces besieged Turku Castle for three months before Johan and Catherine were imprisoned.

    Eventually Johan became King of Sweden after a coup and Erik was kept prisoner at Turku Castle. After Johan died, his son Sigismund became the King of Sweden. From Catherine’s side, he had already been declared the King of Poland. This caused conflict between him and the Swedish Nobles, but the Finnish Nobles supported Sigismund from his fathers time as Duke. Turku Castle was besieged two more times, with the second time in 1599 ending with the massacre at the town hall of Turku on the 10th of November 1599.

    17th Century Decline

    The castle was used throughout the 17th century, but it was considered to be in bad condition by this time. There were a number of sieges and accidents at the castle throughout the 17th century. For example, in 1614, when King Gustav II Adolf visited, a huge fire destroyed the wooden structure of the main castle almost completely. After this, the main castle was abandoned and partly used as a store, while the residents moved into the bailey.

    When governor general Pietari Brahe lived here, the rooms were furnished for use of the official scribes and the fort had an armoury, shoemakers workshop, sauna, and brewery. The Castle was still important for social life where people dressed up, celebrated, and ate the European way.

    Conversion to a Prison & Russian Rule

    From the late 18th century to the late 19th century, part of the Castle was converted into a prison. Sometimes there were almost 20 prisoners to the one cell. In the winter, the air was musty and diseases were common.

    When the Finnish War began in 1808 the Castle was taken over by the Russian navy and handed back to the Finnish authorities a couple decades later, when the country became an autonomous state within the Russian empire. The Castle was then converted to a Russian barracks.

    Museum Conversion and Major Restoration

    Towards the end of the 19th century, interest in the Castle began to be renewed and the Turku Historical Museum was founded in the bailey in 1881.

    In the 1920s and 1930s, the first major restoration work began. During the work, wall paintings from the 1530s were found in the room above the gate.

    The renovation of the castle began before World War II but was interrupted by Finland’s two wars with the Soviet Union, was completed in 1987. The castle was damaged in aerial bombardments, especially in the summer of 1941 when firebombs hit the castle.

    The restored castle was handed over on 12 October 1998 to the city of Turku. The building is today owned by the Finnish state and is entrusted to the use of the city of Turku. The castle functions as a historic museum.

    Castle Construction

    Turku Castle has a medieval keep and Renaissance bailey. The keep is a square fort with two square gateway towers, and the thickness of the walls is around 5 metres (16 feet). The castle used to be surrounded by a moat.

    You can see the video below that outlines all the different stages of growth.

    https://vimeo.com/108994016

    Visiting the Castle

    The Main Castle

    The Main Castle is where you will visit first. You wander through the rooms, following a marked trail, and can read information signs that give an overview of the both the Castle’s history as well as Finland and Sweden’s history.

    There are two separate sections of the Castle when you enter: the medieval castle and the renaissance castle. They are clearly marked with arrows. In each room, there is a number on the wall and a matching description, so you never feel lost.

    There are lots of stairs and awkward entranceways, but this adds to the authenticity of the castle.

    Soon after entering the medieval castle you will see some of the 16th century artwork that was uncovered under the whitewashed walls. There’s nothing drawing attention to it, but you can’t miss it.

    Each room has an information sign in Swedish, Finnish and English with historic drawings of the castle and fun little stories. Take a look at the one above – Jordan the prisoner with multiple wives!

    The walkway up to the Sture Church

    Sture Church

    Sture Church

    The Nuns Chapel

    The most impressive rooms are the Sture Church and the Nuns Chapel, which hold the collection of medieval religious statues, something not seen elsewhere in Finland.

    The Nuns Chapel was built in the 1480s as a dining room for the Lord of the Castle, but it was given to Duchess Catherine to be her devotional chamber after she moved to Turku. After the Reformation, Catholic churches were referred to as monastic churches. The name of the Nuns Chapel therefore doesn’t reference actual numbers, but Catherine herself. In the 17th century it was used for storing flour and in the 18th century it was an armoury.

    In the Guest Room you can see one. of the first windows of Turku Castle. Before then, pig skin would be used instead of glass! Interestingly, the guest room was left empty and furniture was only brought in when needed.

    The King’s State Room was Finland’s most important secular room from the early 14th century. Nearly all of Sweden’s medieval Kings stayed in this room.

    The Kings and Queens Halls date from the 1550s, when the medieval fortification was turned into a Renaissance palace by Duke Johan and Catherine.

    The Bailey

    The exhibitions in the bailey focus on everyday life in the castle, its festivities, court and staff. I found this part a little less interesting as it feels very much like what you’d find in any other European castle. However, this will definitely be of interest to most people!

    Practical Information

    Opening Hours & Prices

    You can find up-to-date information about pricing on the museum website here.

    In winter, the museum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm, while in summer it is open every day from 10am to 6pm.

    Getting There

    The castle is located out of Turku town centre, making it a little difficult to walk there. Thankfully, taking the bus is fairly easy.

    From Market Square, take bus line 1 from Platform D1 towards the harbour (satama in Finnish). The bus stop is in front of the castle.

    If you are driving, parking is available.

    Guided Tours

    Guided tours are only available in Finnish, though it is possible to book a private tour in English.

    Tell Us What You Think!

    Have you been to Turku Castle? Let us know in the comments.

    Turku Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide
  • Hurtigruten, Kirkenes, Museums, World War II

    Andersgrotta, the Bomb Shelter Beneath Kirkenes

    Andersgrotta, the Bomb Shelter Beneath Kirkenes

    Kirkenes, a small town located about 10km (6 mi) from the Russian border, is a fascinating place to visit. It is the turning point of Norway’s Coastal Ferry (Hurtigruten & Havila), so it is easily accessible for visitors to Norway. The town itself is very sleepy today, so it’s hard to imagine that during World War II it was one of the most important places for the Nazis in their fight against the Soviets. In fact, Kirkenes is the most bombed place in Europe after Malta.

    There are two attractions in town that cover World War II history. The first is the Grenseland Museum, located a little ways out of town and covering more the history of border relations between Norway, Finland and Russia, and the second is the Andersgrotta bunker, a complex system of tunnels beneath the town itself. Andersgrotta is offered as an excursion on the Coastal Ferry but it is also possible to visit it yourself while visiting the town.

    Here’s an overview of why Andersgrotta is significant as well as what you can see on your visit.

    In this article...

    Norway's Coastal Ferry

    Kirkenes is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below. 

    Norway's Coastal Ferry
    Kirkenes Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Be sure to check out our Kirkenes travel guide! Here you can find all our recommendations of things to do and see, including our self-guided road-trips. 

    Kirkenes During World War II

    After Norway was occupied by Nazis, Kirkenes became a strategic town due to its proximity to the Soviet Union. Its importance increased when Operation Barbarossa put Kirkenes right on the front lines. Additionally, Murmansk is an ice-free harbour and one of the only ones with access to the ocean, and the Allies were sending ships there to keep the Russians well-stocked to push the Nazis out of St. Petersburg and Russia. The Nazis used Kirkenes as a base to bomb these ships but also try and invade the Soviet Union. Because of these attacks, Kirkenes was bombed more than 300 times, while air raid alarms were held more than 1000 times.

    History of Kirkenes

    Andersgrotta Bunker

    This is the largest bomb shelter in Kirkenes. It was built in 1941 to protect the civilians of Kirkenes from the repeated bombings of the war. Because of the air quality, people couldn’t stay all night but would come down every time there was an alarm. Babies were born here, livestock was kept here, and people just did everything they could to survive. In total, the shelter had enough room for 2500 people. Somehow they survived down there – though it still remains a bit of a mystery.

    After the war, Kirkenes was left in ruins. These bunkers became places where people could live while waiting for their home to be built. This took a while as there aren’t many trees in Northern Norway, so much of the timber had to be imported from the south. Many of the civilians also used the caves out at the mines, approximately 10km from town. Andersgrotta was never used for mining; it is purposely built as a bomb shelter.

    Visiting Andersgrotta

    To get inside, you go down a staircase under the Norwegian flag. It is very cold inside – around 0C – and the air feels musty and damp. You hear dripping water everywhere. There is electrical lighting in there today, but during the war there was no electricity, plumbing, or ventilation systems. During the Cold War all of these were added in. You see one of the air vents when you go to the Russian monument.

    Andersgrotta

    First your guide will show you a selection of images of Kirkenes from before and after the war, explaining the destruction that took place here.

    Next you will sit down and watch a 10 minute documentary that explains what happens in Kirkenes during the war. It includes fictional footage (acting of life in Kirkenes) but also documentary footage of the Nazis, the bombing, and the Soviet Union liberating Kirkenes.

    After the movie you have a chance to walk around. The complex consists of several corridors which lead to a number of exits.

    Outside Attractions

    Andersgrotta

    Guided tours include a visit to the Russian monument that sits on top of Andersgrotta. It may seem a bit surreal to have a monument to a Russian soldier in Kirkenes, but the town was liberated by the Soviets and has maintained a close, positive relationship with the Russians ever since.

    The monument is from 1951 and shows a Red Army soldier standing on a plinth. Originally the soldier was trampling a German eagle under his foot, as a symbol of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, but the political climate changed and the eagle was replaced with a rock shortly before the statue was unveiled.

    Book Your Tour of Andersgrotta

    Andersgrotta is managed by Snowhotel Kirkenes. Andersgrotta is open to the public daily at 12:30pm – you can buy tickets at the entrance or on the Snowhotel website. Otherwise, other times are only available via private tour. These are booked through Snowhotel Kirkenes: https://www.snowhotelkirkenes.com/andersgrotta

    Here is the Hurtigruten excursion to Andersgrotta: https://www.hurtigruten.com.au/excursions/norway/7a-the-norwegian-border/

    Here is the Havila excursion to Andersgrotta: https://www.havilavoyages.com/excursions/the-russian-border

    It is easy to walk here. The entrance is approximately 250 metres from the town centre, though it is not marked with signs.

    Norway's Coastal Ferry

    Kirkenes is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below. 

    Norway's Coastal Ferry
    Kirkenes Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Be sure to check out our Kirkenes travel guide! Here you can find all our recommendations of things to do and see, including our self-guided road-trips. 

  • Museums, Røros

    The Røros Museum ‘Smeltehytta’

    The Røros Museum ‘Smeltehytta'

    When you visit Røros, you have to go to the museum. Located just by the church, the museum is a reconstruction of the Smeltehytta that once stood here (I’ll explain what that is below). Inside you’ll find an overview of the unique mining history in Røros, from the process to the finance and beyond. But the museum isn’t just about mining – a topic I know doesn’t appeal to everyone – but the museum is about life in Røros. What was it like to live here 300 years ago? What happened to the Sami people? By visiting the museum, you get this newfound appreciation for the difficulty of living in such a remote spot.

    Back in September 2020, I visited the museum during my road-trip around southern Norway. I was impressed by many aspects of the museum, and it helped when I walked through Røros afterwards. I’ve found information about the museum online to be scattered, so I’ve put together this guide to help you get an understanding of what to expect when visiting.

    In this article...

    The Fv30 Highway

    You can reach Røros by taking the Fv30 from near Trondheim. You can find my guide to the Fv30 by clicking the link below. 

    The Fv30 Highway
    Røros Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    What is a Smeltehytta? The History of the Site Explained

    A Smeltehytta – or smelting cabin in English – is the place where the copper ore underwent a long and laborious smelting process before the finished product was exported. The mining didn’t take place in Røros but the surrounding area; once the copper ore was extracted, it was transported by horse and sledge to one of the many Smeltehytta’s around Røros. There were twelve Smeltehytta’s in total. The Smeltehytta had to be built by a river to utilise the waterpower, as well as be close to timber as the process required a lot of wood.

    I explain the mining history in-depth on a separate page, which you can view here.

    It’s believed one of the first-ever Smeltehytta’s was built on the site where the museum is today, and the town of Røros grew around it. Sadly, that Smeltehytta is long gone; the cabins were never really preserved. As mining was modernised, so was the smelting process. Also, the Smeltehytta in Røros burned down in 1953 and then again in 1975. Between 1986 and 1988 it was rebuilt as a cultural monument and museum, and a lot of work went into making it look as much like the real thing as possible.

    Inside the museum

    Arriving at the museum

    Signs are pointing to the museum all over town. If you are on foot, it’s a couple of minutes walk from the main street. If you have just arrived by train, it’s only a ten-minute walk (800m). Otherwise, there is a very large car-park outside the museum itself. Please note, though, that the roads leading up to the museum are very narrow for cars and most are one-way; pay attention to which way they go!

    View from the car-park

    Approaching the museum + car-park by car (taken from my YouTube video)

    After parking at the museum, you get an excellent view of Røros Church. Such an amazing view, but don’t let it distract you! You can explore the town after. I got so distracted I forgot to take a photo of the museum.

    Arriving at the museum

    You enter the museum on the top floor. The reception desk is right there, with the souvenir shop just behind. To your right will be an exhibition about Røros as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed region. It’s mostly just text on boards, but there are some great images there. The exhibition also shows you the other UNESCO sites in Norway, including beautiful Bryggen in Bergen. You can see what it looks like here.

    The shop is excellent, but I’ll talk about that below.

    Once you get your ticket and brochure, you head downstairs to the bottom floor: it’s two floors down. There’s also a lift. This is where the main exhibitions are.

    Vaskaryss og Bersa: A Sculpture Exhibition

    Before you walk into the main exhibition about mining, you’ll pass through this sculpture exhibit. It’s called ‘Vaskaryss og Bersa’ and it is a series of sculptures by local artist Per Sverre Dahl. The sculptures depict the dark side of mining in the early years: child labour and poor work conditions. The sculptures are excellent, but you are likely to skip right by them on your way to the main exhibit.

    The Main Exhibit: Mining around Røros

    This is what you came for. It shows examples of how mining and smelting took place in Røros from the 17th to the 19th century – i.e. pre-modernisation. It highlights the organisation, use of materials, and financing.

    Immediately you’re greeted with this huge display that says all the names of the mines and all the different jobs at each mine. It also shows how long they lasted. It’s a great visual representation of just how big mining was here, but note it’s all in Norwegian – old Norwegian too!

    Of course, one of the first displays is copper ore. You have to see what they made their money on. This piece is taken from Gamle Storwartz mine – the first mine in the region.

    There is another incredible display outlining how much copper was extracted each year, plus when each mine was in operation. I love visual displays like this; it’s so much nicer than reading a wall of text. If you read many of my pieces about museums, you’ll see I don’t care much for museums that are just made up of text. I like visual representations – that’s why I go to museums! If I wanted just text, I’d read a book. Anyway.

    After passing these displays, you turn into the main room. Here you see the models that represent how the process works. There’s also a section with items from the old mines. I should say that the items leftover from the mines is very minimal. While I found that disappointing, it’s worth remembering that the miners were not exactly preoccupied with preserving everything when doing that hard manual labour every day.

    The models are incredible. They move and replicate exactly what the mining process was like. It helped me understand how it all worked. I was mesmerised by the quality and attention to detail that went into these models. They are fantastic. You’ll spend most of your time here looking at them.

    The Ruins

    After walking through this room, you’ll reach the end. It feels small but go through the large barn door to your left. This is an additional room with models, but there’s also the remains of the old smelter here.

    In this room, you’ll also find some old photos. Many of these photos can be seen online here.

    Be sure to look up! This painting is above the entrance to this room.

    The barn-like room is where you see most of the old smelter. It’s great any of it remains considering it burned down in 1953 and 1975. There are old tools and gear here, and they aren’t in any exhibition case. They are just left scattered around, as though the workers have put them down for their break. I like this authenticity. It’s rough, rugged, and authentic.

    However, the room is small. You’re done in no time. Head back to the main exhibition room and then from there you head upstairs.

    Upper floor exhibition

    On the middle floor is an exhibition called Ti Finpussa (In Their Finery). It is a collection of clothing pieces that were worn by people in Røros throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It shows how people dressed for the weekend, holidays, and parties. The clothing is inspired by European trends, but also reflects the practical needs of the people living here.

    I remember that almost all the information was in Norwegian. Luckily I had my husband there to translate, but we moved through this exhibition pretty fast and I didn’t take any photo.

    You can see the exhibition here.

    Temporary exhibitions

    The museum has temporary exhibitions every year. We didn’t go – I don’t think there were any when we visited. In 2021 they have an exhibition on the Alta Hydropower project, which is interesting considering Alta is very far away from Røros. My guess is that it ties in with the Sami community in Røros. Click here to view info on the exhibit.

    Interestingly, I couldn’t find any info about the temporary exhibitions on their English website; just the Norwegian website. Either they haven’t updated it, or they are only doing it in Norwegian.

    Visiting the museum

    How long should I spend here?

    The museum is small, and we were in and out within an hour. Of course, that depends on your interests.

    When is it open?

    The opening hours are:

    • 20 June – 15 August: 10.00 – 18.00
    • 16 August – 10 September: 10.00 – 16.00
    • 11 September – 31 May: 10.00 – 15.00 
    • 1 June – 19 June: 10.00 – 16.00

    NOTE – they update their website often, and I may not be able to update in time. Check the current opening hours here.

    Practical Information

    Accessibility

    The main exhibition is down two flights of stairs, but there is a lift as well.

    Audio guides

    They have audio guides you can borrow at the museum, or you can load it up on your phone ahead of time. The ones in the museum come in English, Norwegian, French and German. The one online seems to be in English.

    The audio guide for your phone is here.

    Want to get a really good overview of the museum? You can listen to it all online here. Or wait until you actually get there.

    Guided Tours

    Guided tours are available in the summer, and I highly recommend them. During summer, they have one English-language tour a day at 11am. During winter, they offer guided tours in English and Norwegian at 1pm.

    Check the current tour info here.

    Online exhibitions

    There is a crazy amount of information online, and there are two websites that are ‘online exhibitions’.

    The first one is about Røros on the World UNESCO List. There is so much info there. Click here to view the website.

    The second website is about Sami Culture & Heritage in Røros. Why is this an online-only exhibition? I wish I could’ve seen this in person. Click here to view the website.

    Parking

    Parking is free and located just outside the museum. It’s a fairly large carpark.

    Shop

    The shop is huge and full of goodies. There are many, many books on Røros – most of them are in Norwegian, though.

    There’s a section of Sami goods, including jewellery and handicrafts. The husband surprised me with a necklace from there; he knows Sami jewellery is my favourite thing.

    You can find the Røros tweed blankets here, as well as locally made ceramics and food.

    There’s also the standard t-shirts, postcards and magnets type of souvenirs.

    The Fv30 Highway

    You can reach Røros by taking the Fv30 from near Trondheim. You can find my guide to the Fv30 by clicking the link below. 

    The Fv30 Highway
    Røros Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide