Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schøtstuene

About the museum

Det Hanseatiske Museum was founded in 1872 by the merchant Johan W. Olsen and was housed in Finnegården on Bryggen, one of the oldest and best-preserved buildings there. Finnegården was built after the town fire of 1702 and is the only one of the 62 buildings on Bryggen that has kept its original interior. Bergen municipality bought the museum in 1916, and Christian Koren Wiberg became its first director. From 2005 the Stiftelsen Museum Vest (Museum Vest Foundation) has run the museum, while the buildings and the collection are owned by the municipality.

The Schøtstuene, the large meeting and living rooms of the Hanseatic merchants in Øvregaten by Mariakirken, have been part of the museum since 1938. The complex consists of four rooms and two kitchen houses and lies in its own garden. Since Finnegården has been closed for extensive restoration from 1 October 2018 until the beginning of 2027, the Schøtstuene is the museum's main venue. Here new exhibitions show life and trade on Bryggen during the Hanseatic period from 1360 to 1761, and visitors can follow the restoration work.

Under the Schøtstuene a medieval ruin has been made accessible, which can be seen through a glass floor. The museum shop is on Bryggen, and guided tours start from the Schøtstuene and go through the narrow alleys of the World Heritage site Bryggen.

Highlights

• Schøtstuene, the Hanseatic merchants' meeting rooms with kitchen houses and garden
• Guided tour through the alleys of the World Heritage site Bryggen
• Medieval ruin that can be seen through a glass floor
• Exhibitions on the life and trade of the Hanseatic period in Bergen
• Follow the restoration of Finnegården, the museum's historic main building

Permanent exhibitions

• Schøtstuene – hansatidens liv og handel – New exhibitions in the Hanseatic merchants' rooms on life and work on Bryggen and Bergen as a trading town until 1760, with the chance to follow the restoration of Finnegården.
• Middelalderruinen under Schøtstuene – Medieval ruin that can be seen through a glass floor under the Schøtstuene.

Founded

1872

Operated by

Stiftelsen Museum Vest

Admission & discounts

The prices for adults and students include a guided tour, which must be booked in advance.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers treasure hunts and activities for all ages, and children under 18 enter free.

Getting there & parking

The museum lies in the centre of Bergen, and the easiest way is on foot, since parking in the centre can be difficult.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop on Bryggen (Bryggen 33) with gifts, books and historical pictures connected with Bergen and the Hanseatic period. The garden by the Schøtstuene has seating and can be used for eating a packed lunch.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit