The History of Vadsø
Located in the far north-east of Norway, Vadsø is a small town with a surprisingly complex and fascinating history. The town is located on the Varanger peninsula, close to the Russian border, and for hundreds of years has seen settlement from Sami, Kven and Norwegian populations due to the rich fishing and nearby trade.
If you are road-tripping in Northern Norway, Vadsø is located along the Varanger Tourist Road, one of the most unique tourist roads in the country. Otherwise, you will likely visit Vadsø when sailing on the coastal ferry. In any case, I really love Vadsø and think it’s a highlight in Northern Norway. So, here’s my overview of the areas history to help you understand why it’s so unique.
The History of Vadsø
Norway's Coastal Ferry
Vadsø is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below.
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Vadsø, including practical information and things to do.
Earliest Settlement
People have lived in the area for thousands of years. Excavations have shown that there were settlements in the area as long as 9,000 years ago. It’s believed that the first people in the area were the Sami people. They were a semi-nomadic people, relying on fishing, reindeer herding, and hunting.
Early Migration of Norwegian & Kven People
Starting in the late medieval period, Norwegians and Finnish immigrants, later known as Kvens, began to settle in the area. Vadsø developed as a cultural meeting point for different groups. Most Norwegians came over in the 16th century. They settled on the island of Vadsøya thanks to the close proximity to the fisheries. Vadsøya is separated from the mainland by a 70 metre wide sound that could be walked across at low tide; this is still possible today. The village even had a church on the island.
Vadsøya Cultural Heritage Trail
On the island Vadsøya there is a 1.8km long cultural heritage trail, with interesting information on ancient sites from the Middle Ages in Vadsø, the cemetery, the airship masts, and other war memorials.
Pomor Trade
Vadsø benefited from trade with Russian merchants, known as Pomors. This trade flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Russians brought goods like grain in exchange for fish and other local products.
You can read my detailed overview of the Pomor Trade by clicking the link below.
Moving the Settlement
As the settlement grew, it was decided to move Vadsø over onto the Varanger peninsula. In 1717, the church was moved over to the mainland. The current church is the fourth church to be in Vadsø. Vadsø continued to grow in the 19th century, and was officially designated as a municipality in 1839. Throughout the 19th century, fishing remained an important part of the local economy, complemented by trade and shipping. Svend Foyn’s first whale station was located on Vadsøya. In 1875, 62% of the population was Finnish speaking, and Vadsø was considered the capital Kven city in Norway. The Finnish language is still spoken by many, and Finnish traditions are still done alongside the Norwegian ones.
Kven Immigration
The 19th century saw significant immigration from Finland due to famine and political unrest. This influx of Kvens significantly influenced the towns culture and demographics. The town has become known as the ‘Kven capital’.
The Kven People
“Kven” is the name given to people of Finnish descent in Northern Norway. The present-day Kven population descends from several waves of settlement and immigration that took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first wave was to Troms and West Finnmark, although the largest wave of immigration was to East Finnmark and Vadsø in particular. The Kven culture is stronger in West Finnmark, but there are several buildings and remains in the east too.
The Oldest Building
The oldest building in Vadsø is Tuomainegården, a traditional Finnish house. The house is from 1851 and is an example of a ‘Varanger House’, which is a type of house with several variants developed in East Finnmark with the influence of neighbouring countries and the many ethnic groups residing here. The house and outhouse are joined by a corridor, so you could reach the outhouse without having to go out into bad weather. The Finns also brought the sauna with them when they came, and the sauna in this building has been preserved.
Arctic Exploration
Near the Hurtigruten pier in Vadsø stands a 60-meter-tall mast built in 1926 by Italian aviation engineer Umberto Nobile. It served as a mooring mast for the airships Norge in 1926 and Italia in 1928. This structure symbolizes a significant chapter in Norwegian and European polar exploration. Both airships launched from Vadsø to Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard before embarking on their historic North Pole expeditions.
Renowned Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), already celebrated for his Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, believed airships were ideal for exploring uncharted Arctic regions. His initial attempt in 1922, using two airships from Tromsø, ended in crashes, though the pilots were rescued.
In 1926, Amundsen teamed up with American millionaire Lincoln Ellsworth for a new Arctic expedition aboard the airship Norge. Designed and piloted by Nobile, the airship departed from Rome and traveled via Oslo, Leningrad, and Vadsø, crossing the Barents Sea to Ny-Ålesund. On May 11, 1926, the expedition reached the North Pole and landed in Teller, Alaska, on May 14. The crew returned to Norway as celebrated heroes.
World War II
Vadsø, like much of Finnmark, was heavily affected by the German occupation during World War II. Vadsø was at times the headquarters for approximately 2,000 German troops. The centre of the town was badly damaged when the Allies bombed the town in 1944. Despite the bombings, 1/3 of the towns buildings were left standing. In Vadsø, there are more preserved pre-war buildings than anywhere else in Finnmark County.
The town was bombed several times by Soviet forces due to its strategic location. At the end of the war, it was almost entirely destroyed by the German scorched-earth retreat in 1944.
Vadsø was completely rebuilt after the war, with modern architecture replacing older wooden buildings.
Modern Times
While fishing remains important for the community, the economy has diversified to include public administration, trade, and tourism. The town is also known for promoting its diverse cultural heritage, particularly the contributions of the Sami and the Kvens.
Also, Vadsø’s location near the Barents Sea places it within the broader context of Arctic geopolitics and environmental concerns.
Vadsø’s history reflects resilience and adaptation in a challenging Arctic environment, with a rich blend of cultures and historic events shaping its identity today.
Norway's Coastal Ferry
Vadsø is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below.
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Uppsala, including practical information and things to do.
