Nordsjøfartmuseet
Museum in Telavåg about the England run across the North Sea during the Second World War, life in exile and the Telavåg tragedy of 1942.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
During the Second World War the village of Telavåg was wiped out by the German occupying power, and all its inhabitants were evacuated. The men were sent to German concentration camps, where 31 died, while women, children and the elderly were interned in Norway. The dramatic wartime history received little attention until some forty years after the war. In 1988 a war memorial collection opened in a boathouse (naust) in Telavåg, a municipal initiative that was largely carried by local forces.
Visitor numbers were so high that Sund kommune and Hordaland fylkeskommune began planning a museum the following year. Nordsjøfartmuseet opened in April 1998. Whereas the war memorial collection emphasised the tragedy of Telavåg seen from a local perspective, the new museum placed the wartime events in a wider context and also dealt with the North Sea traffic (nordsjøfarten), the illegal traffic between Norway and Britain during the war.
Today the museum shows exhibitions on the England run and the North Sea traffic, on life in exile for refugees who made their way across to Shetland, and on the Telavåg tragedy. A visit begins with a 25-minute film about the North Sea traffic and the tragedy, subtitled in English. The museum is a department of Museum Vest.
Highlights
- The England run and the North Sea traffic during the Second World War
- The exhibition on life in exile
- The Telavåg tragedy and the museum film
- Audio guide in Norwegian, German and English
- Mobile app “Telavåg 1942”
Permanent exhibitions
- Englandsfart og nordsjøfart under andre verdenskrig – About the escape across the North Sea on civilian vessels such as fishing boats, the so-called England run (Englandsfarten).
- Livet i eksil – About the crossing to Shetland, the reception and everyday life of Norwegian refugees.
- Telavågtragedien – About the German terror regime in Telavåg during the war and the dramatic history of the village’s people.
- Founded
- 1998
- Operated by
- Stiftelsen Museum Vest
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 130 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 65Students |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people up to 18 have free admission. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Students & apprentices | NOK 65 |
| Groups (20+ people) | NOK 110 per personGroups of more than 20 people. School pupils have free admission. |
| Annual pass for Museum Vest | NOK 490Gives free admission to all seven departments of Museum Vest. |
Payment by cash, Visa, Mastercard and Vipps (mobile payment). Tickets can be bought in advance online.
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, with reserved parking for people with reduced mobility and a hearing loop (teleslynge) in the cinema hall. The audio guide is free and is available in Norwegian, German and English; personal earphones are sold for NOK 10.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 12+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
The museum suits visitors from the age of 12. The shop has toys for children.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Route 453–459 from Bergen city centre to Telavåg; the journey takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Check Skyss for current timetables.
By car
Free parking
Free parking.
- Accessible parking
By car, follow Riksvei 555 south on Sotra and turn off towards Telavåg. It is 40 km from Bergen city centre, about 40 minutes’ drive.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi for guests. Café with an exit to a terrace, serving coffee, cakes and hot toast; groups can order service from a menu. The café is open during the museum’s opening hours. Museum shop at the entrance with books, locally produced gifts, toys and literature from the war and occupation period.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (NO, DE, EN) |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A visit begins with a 25-minute film. The usual time in the exhibitions is 30–45 minutes. The museum suits visitors from the age of 12. Visits by school classes and groups must be booked in advance. |
