Merdøgaard museum
Small coastal farm on the island of Merdø off Arendal, with a skipper’s house from 1736 and preserved interiors from around 1800, open in summer with guided tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Merdøgaard is a small coastal farm on the island of Merdø in the skerries off Arendal, with a skipper’s house (skipperhus) from 1736. The house has been preserved with its original interiors and furnishings from around 1800. Two sea captains who traded with China lived on the farm: Zacharias Allewelt and Jesper With. The Larssøn family owned the farm from 1782 to 1930.
The poet Vilhelm Krag argued for preserving the farm in 1915, and Arendal Museum took over the property in 1930. Today Merdøgaard is run as a branch of KUBEN, Aust-Agder museum and archive. The farm has a long shoreline, and its beach is regarded as one of the finest sandy beaches for small children in the area.
In the summer season the museum opens every day with several guided tours. A passenger ferry runs from Pollen in Arendal, and the crossing takes about 20 minutes. Visits are only possible with a guided tour, and groups can book a private tour or a walk on the island.
Highlights
- Skipper’s house from 1736 with original interiors
- Furnishings from around 1800
- Guided tour on site every day in the season
- Passenger ferry from Pollen in Arendal
- Sandy beach suitable for small children
- Small café on the island
Permanent exhibition
- Skipperhuset på Merdøgaard – Skipper’s house from 1736 with preserved interiors and furnishings from around 1800, shown on a guided tour.
- Operated by
- KUBEN (Aust-Agder museum og arkiv)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 100 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children under 18 enter free. |
Free admission: The season opening on Sunday 21 June is free of charge.
Annual pass holders enter free. Tickets are booked online; any remaining places can be bought on arrival with Vipps or card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Children under 18 enter free, and the beach by the farm is suitable for small children.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Pollen i Arendal
Passenger ferry from Pollen in Arendal every half hour in summer; the crossing takes about 20 minutes. Timetables are available at merdoferga.no and merdofergen.no.
The museum is on the island of Merdø off Arendal and is reached by boat.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Small café on the island.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits are only possible with a guided tour. Guided tours for groups of up to 15 people can be arranged, also outside opening hours from May to September, and island walks are available for groups of up to 25. |
