Kjeldsenbruket

About the museum

Kjeldsenbruket is a former fish-processing station (fiskebruk) at Ekkerøy, an old fishing village about 15 km east of Vadsø. It is probably the only complete fish-processing station in Finnmark that survived the Second World War, and it consists of a quay, a storehouse (pakkhus), a cod-liver oil steaming house (trandamperi), drying sheds (egnebuer) and gutting sheds. In addition there is a post-war reconstruction hut from 1946 with a shop, storeroom and dwelling.

The station is named after the Kjeldsen family, who came to Ekkerøy around 1835. It was expanded in several stages, especially after 1911, and was run by Kjeldsen, later Ove Olsen and his sons. From 1957 to 1964 there was a shrimp factory in some of the drying sheds. Operations ceased in 1969.

In 1986 the station was transferred to Vadsø municipality, and the buildings were taken over by Vadsø museum. After extensive restoration, most of the buildings are museum spaces. The flat in the hut has been furnished in 1950s style, and the old shop has authentic goods from the 1950s. In the former shrimp factory there is an exhibition on fishing, while the cod-liver oil steaming house and the storerooms are shown as they were.

Highlights

• Probably the only complete fish-processing station left in Finnmark after the war
• Quay, storehouse, cod-liver oil steaming house and drying sheds
• Shop with goods from the 1950s
• Flat furnished in 1950s style
• Fisheries exhibition in the former shrimp factory

Permanent exhibition

• Fiskeriutstilling i rekefabrikken – Exhibition on fishing and fish processing at Ekkerøy, in the former shrimp factory. The cod-liver oil steaming house and the storerooms are shown as they were.

Operated by

Varanger Museum IKS (Vadsø museum – Ruija kvenmuseum)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

Kjeldsenbruket has traditionally had a café in the old shop in summer.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.