Flekkefjord has been a landing place for ships for centuries, and the first mention of the town is from 1580. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, there was extensive trade between Holland and the south coast of Norway. The Dutch began to come to Flekkefjord and the district Hollenderbyen is named after the many Dutch settlers.Â
About Flekkefjord
Latitude: 59.4 degrees north
Population: 13,409
Hottest Month:Â July
Coldest Month:Â February
Wettest Month:Â October
Windiest Month:Â January
Annual precipitation:Â 1155mm a year
Flekkefjord Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Map of Flekkefjord
Uniquely Flekkefjord
Here are some things that you must do and try in Flekkefjord
Historic Neighbourhood
Hollenderbyen
The Dutch Quarter is where Dutch people settled during the height of the trading period. Today it is a charming area with wooden houses and some nice cafes or small boutique shops. There is also some street art in this area.
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Flekkefjord
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Natural Attraction
Brufjell Potholes
A popular hike is to the horizontal potholes at Brufjell. They were created during the Ice Age around 20,000 years ago when the sea level was higher. The mountains are located in Ã…na-Sira, a small village just outside Flekkefjord.
The Flekkefjord Line is a 17km branch of the abandoned Sørland railway. Here you can rent rail bikes (dresins) and cycle the stretch that is not in use by the railway.Â
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Flekkefjord.Â
The E39 from Kristiansand to Bergen
The E39 from Kristiansand covers the south-western coast of Norway, passing the southernmost tip and then continuing along some important coastal cities.Â
Flekkefjord is first mentioned in historic documents in 1580, but it was already a place then. The town is also mentioned in reference to King James VI of Scotland, who in 1589 landed at Flekkefjord before travelling to Oslo to marry Princess Anne of Denmark.Â
When the southern city of Kristiansand was founded in 1641, King Christian IV wanted to ensure the economic survival of the new city by forcing the Flekkefjord residents there. Many did, but not all of them and the remaining residents continued to trade. By 1660, Flekkefjord got trading rights.Â
The major trading partner with Flekkefjord has always been the Dutch, and this shared history goes back hundreds of years. The first major export from Flekkefjord was stone thanks to the large amounts of stone on this part of the coast. In 1736, over 300 ships were reported to have exported stones from Flekkefjord. In the late-18th century, Flekkefjord was the most important export harbour for herring.
After the war, timber export became important and most houses in Amsterdam from the 19th century are resting on timber foundations from the Flekkefjord region.Â
Flekkefjord Today
Today Flekkefjord is an important hub for south-west Norway and has a hospital.Â
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: No airport
Drive: Flekkefjord is located on the E39 highway that goes between Kristiansand and Stavanger (and onwards to Bergen and Trondheim)
Train: Flekkefjord is a station on the Sørlandsbanen that goes between Oslo and Stavanger (via Kristiansand).Â
Ferry: No ferry access.Â
Getting Around
Flekkefjord is a small town and easily accessible on foot.Â
Shops
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Tollboden Bakeri is famous for their woodfire oven pizzas.