Meny

Our history

Here you will find a number of articles that give an insight into Lofoten’s exciting and sometimes dramatic history.
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The maritime cultural landscape in Lofoten and Vestfjorden

Frank A. Jenssen conducts interviews and tells about the fisherman, the ship owner, the tongue cutter and the guides in Lofoten and Vestfjorden.

The mysterious Vågar

There are many sources that show that the town of Vågar was of great importance. But then it disappeared.

Lofoten fishing

From Western Norway in the south, to Finnmark in the north, they came with hand lines and nets, line and seine. And with the dream of the big lot in Lykkeland. That there you could get rich. Out here in Lofoten, the mountainous country with its foot in the open sea, and unimaginable quantities of fish.

Cod – the fish that created Norway

"We've been told that it was farming in Eastern Norway, lumber from the plank towns, the hardingfela and national costumes that made a state of us. But it was the cod that did that."

The mining operation at Matmora: Large investments without profit

At the beginning of the 20th century, enormous effort and large sums of money were invested in mining at the Matmora mountain southeast of Laukvik.

The sail that had to give way.

After the Second World War, there was a shortage of just about everything, the only thing that wasn't rationed was scouring powder.

The statue of King Øystein Magnusson

The Øystein statue - past in present.

Skjelfjorden – Norway’s Scapa Flow

On the night of 9. On the night of April 9, 10 German destroyers enter the Vestfjord and continue in darkness and snowdrifts into the Ofotfjord, on their way to Narvik.

Coat of arms in Lofoten

In recent times, the municipal coat of arms has primarily been used as a symbol and characteristic of municipalities (and county councils).

Operation Claymore– the first overall victory

The Lofoten raid takes place at the darkest hour of World War 2. world war. "The Dark Hour" as Churchill put it.

Tragic accident at Svolvær harbour

Sailor from Vangshavn in Senja frozen to death on an islet. Desperate and futile struggle for his life in bad weather and cold.

Roald Amundsen on Hanøen

Hanøen's old trading post was once one of two outlets for spirits.

The fight for the road connection Vestbygd–Lødingen

A story about a people who never gave up.

The people who wanted to live at Husjord

"If we had still had a couple of young people who could have helped us and helped us with the heaviest roofs, we might have been able to live at Husjord for many years..."