Norges Fiskerimuseum

Norges Fiskerimuseum (the Norwegian Fisheries Museum) is a museum in Bergen, set in old harbour warehouses on the quayside in the Sandviken district. It is the country's oldest museum of business history, and it tells the story of the fish, boats and trade that sustained coastal life for centuries.

How did the museum begin?

It was founded in 1880 by Selskabet for de norske Fiskeriers Fremme, a society promoting Norwegian fisheries, with the aim of helping modernise the industry. Until 1993 it was called Fiskerimuseet i Bergen, and since 2005 it has been part of Museum Vest.

The collection has moved several times. From 1896 to 1991 it was housed in the Permanenten exhibition building, shared with Vestlandske Kunstindustrimuseum and Bergen Billedgalleri. A temporary exhibition then ran at Bontelabo until 2010. In 2015 the museum opened new exhibition rooms in the Sandviksboder 23 and 24 warehouses in Sandviken, where it remains today.

What is the building like?

The main building, Sandviksboder 23, is a wooden-planked warehouse dating from 1730. It now stands on a quayside, although the area was once a small island in the harbour. The building is itself a heritage site, so a visit doubles as a look at historic Bergen harbour architecture.

What can you see in the exhibitions?

Displays cover fishing history, aquaculture, herring processing, seal hunting and the stockfish trade. Some of the best preserved wall paintings that once decorated the interiors of these warehouses can also be seen.

The most prized part of the collection is more than 100 boat models, regarded as the museum's greatest treasures. For children there are interactive stations, including one where visitors try being a seafood producer and learn each stage from catch to finished product.

Is there a guided tour?

Yes. A guided tour leads through the fully preserved stockfish warehouse, a heritage-protected building in its own right. It is a good chance to see what a working space tied to one of Norway's key export goods looked like.

Storeblå and aquaculture

In 2020 the Storeblå aquaculture visitor centre joined the museum. This links the history of traditional fishing with the modern aquaculture industry, now an important part of the Norwegian economy.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the museum? In the Sandviken district of Bergen, in the Sandviksboder 23 and 24 warehouses by the quay. Coordinates: 60.408 N, 5.322 E.

How long has it been at this location? Since 2015. Before that the collection was housed in the Permanenten building and at Bontelabo, among other places.

Is it good for families with children? Yes. There are interactive stations for children, and the journey of fish from catch to product is presented accessibly.

What is the museum's greatest treasure? The collection of over 100 boat models.

Who runs the museum? It has been part of Museum Vest since 2005.

Who is it for?

The museum suits anyone interested in Norwegian economic history, traditional harbour buildings in Bergen, or where Norwegian seafood comes from. The combination of historic warehouses, boat models, wall paintings and a modern aquaculture exhibit helps explain why fishing shaped the city and the whole west coast. Plan some extra time for a relaxed walk around Sandviken and the quayside, where the old wooden warehouses, known as boder, still stand.