Kystmuseet Hvaler
Open-air museum of coastal culture at the Nordgården Dypedal farm on Spjærøy, with farmyard, stonemason's room (stenhoggerstue), herb garden and exhibitions in the barn (låven).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kystmuseet Hvaler is the coastal culture department of Østfoldmuseene. The museum is located at Nordgården Dypedal on Spjærøy, a typical mixed farm (kombinasjonsbruk) on Hvaler, where people lived by farming and fishing and, from the late 1800s, also by stonecutting. Along the coast it was rarely enough to live from the sea or the land alone, and pilotage, shipping and other businesses connected to the sea were an important part of coastal culture.
The association Hvaler Bygdesamling was founded in 1971 by a group of dedicated enthusiasts who wanted to save a culture in transition, and in its first years the association collected objects. In 1973 it bought Nordgården Dypedal as its main seat, and in 1990 a permanent exhibition opened that has been shown every summer since. The name Kystmuseet Hvaler was adopted in 1994, in 1999 the museum got its first permanent employee, and from 2006 it has been part of Østfoldmuseene.
On the museum grounds, visitors find the herb garden with historical useful plants, the apple garden with old apple varieties from Hvaler and a small field with older grain varieties. The relocated living room “Emilstua” shows how a stonemason's family lived on Vesterøy in the early 1900s. In the barn, the exhibitions convey the history of the island community, and the outdoor area has a playground for the youngest.
Highlights
- Nordgården Dypedal, a typical mixed farm on Hvaler
- Emilstua, the living room of a stonemason's family
- Herb garden and apple garden with old varieties from Hvaler
- The exhibition “Skjærgårdsliv” on Hvaler's history 1850–1950
- Playground and henhouse for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Friluftsmuseet Kystmuseet Hvaler – Nordgården is a typical farm on Hvaler, with traces of the stonemasons' work and the relocated living room Emilstua.
- Skjærgårdsliv – Exhibition in the barn on how Hvaler developed between 1850 and 1950, with fishing, shipping and industry as important livelihoods.
- Founded
- 1971
- Operated by
- Østfoldmuseene
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 90 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 45Children, young people and students |
| Children & teens | NOK 45free up to age 5 · Children and young people. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companion has free admission. |
| Students & apprentices | NOK 45 |
| Families | NOK 225Family ticket for two adults and children. |
Children aged 0–5, companions, friend card holders, and members of ICOM and NMF have free admission. Separate prices apply to events, lectures and guided tours. Annual passes for all Østfoldmuseene museums can be purchased.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | NOK 225 · Family ticket for two adults and children. |
- Playground / play area
The outdoor area has a playground for the youngest, with stilts and kubb among other things, and the henhouse in the farmyard is a popular play house. Barnas Julemarked (Children's Christmas Market) is held at the museum on 5 December 2026.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop also sells ice cream, soft drinks, waffles and coffee.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
