Kystmuseet i Øygarden

About the museum

Kystmuseet i Øygarden was officially opened on 15 June 1996. Øygarden municipality received NOK 5 million from the Troll project, earmarked for museum buildings, as a consequence of the major changes brought by industrial development, and the building was financed by the Troll project, the Norwegian Arts Council, Hordaland county municipality and Øygarden municipality. The museum was built as a regional museum to document and convey coastal culture, and since its opening it has emphasised the history of the coast's resources and energy.

The museum has built up a collection of boats and objects and is an ecomuseum. Six of the buildings in the collection are located on the museum grounds, including two preserved dwelling houses, Strandberg and Nakkestova. The museum has also received as gifts an older stone sheep barn (steinsauefjøs) and a drying house for grain, and a boathouse (sjøbu) from the 18th century in Breivikssundet. The salt house (Saltebua) on the quay was bought for museum purposes in 2003 and houses, among other things, a motor exhibition. In 2005 the museum became the municipality's millennium site (tusenårssted), and the amphitheatre and stage on the quay make it possible to hold larger concerts. The new building Taremare was opened in 2021.

The exhibition “Livet ved havet” (Life by the Sea) shows, with pictures, film, text and objects, how the society of Øygarden has changed from the first people who arrived just after the last Ice Age to the oil and gas age. Other exhibitions deal with home fishing and traditional boats in Western Norway (Vestlandet). The museum has a café, museum shop, beach, guest quay and rental of canoes and rowing boats, and is part of Museum Vest.

Highlights

• Exhibition “Livet ved havet” from the Stone Age to the oil age
• Motor exhibition with about 40 outboard motors in Saltebua
• Boat collection with traditional boats and a boathouse by the quay
• Cultural-historical buildings, including Strandberg and Nakkestova
• Café, beach and rental of canoes and rowing boats

Permanent exhibitions

• Livet ved havet – Exhibition with pictures, film, text and objects on how the society of Øygarden has changed from the last Ice Age to the oil and gas age.
• Eg rodde meg ut – Exhibition in the boathouse on home fishing and fishing for own use and for sale in town.
• Påhengsmotorar frå fjern og nær – Motor exhibition with about 40 motors in the old salt house on the quay.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Museum Vest

Admission & discounts

Group price for adults to the Øygarden visitor centre is NOK 170 and for children NOK 85. Payment by card, cash and Vipps (mobile payment).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is universally designed. It is possible to drive right up to the main entrance to drop off passengers, and there are reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility at the museum. There is an induction loop in the cinema room. The gravel path from the car park along the main road is not suitable for wheelchairs or for people with poor mobility; drive instead to the museum's own car park.

Kids & families

Children and young people up to and including 18 have free admission. There is a beach and good hiking opportunities at the museum.

Getting there & parking

Follow riksvei 555 towards Sotra over Sotrabrua and through the Kolltveit tunnel, turn right at the roundabout after the tunnel and follow riksvei 561 towards Hellesøy. The drive from central Bergen takes about 50 minutes. The museum lies along the road and is signposted at the car park.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Café and museum shop. Wi-Fi throughout the museum building; ask on arrival for login details. Rental of canoes and rowing boats.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

The museum, the auditorium (49 people) and Taremare can be rented for meetings, parties and screenings. The café can be set for up to 60 people, and there is room for 100 members of the audience at lectures or concerts. Food must be ordered from elsewhere, as the museum has no production kitchen.

Plan your visit