Norges Fiskerimuseum

About the museum

Norges Fiskerimuseum is the country’s oldest museum of industrial history. It was established in 1880–82 by Selskabet for de norske Fiskeriers Fremme (the Society for the Promotion of Norwegian Fisheries), which was founded to develop and modernise the fishing industry. The society collected and passed on information to people in the industry through pamphlets, books and the journal Norsk Fiskeritidende.

The museum opened to the public on 28 May 1882 in municipal premises in the attic of the Kjøttbasaren (meat bazaar). It later moved to the newly built Permanente Utstillingsbygning (Permanent Exhibition Building), where it remained until 1991. It then moved to Bontelabo, with a new exhibition in 1992, but the storage space was far too small and additional premises had to be rented for the collections.

In 2000 Bergen city council decided to establish Norges Fiskerimuseum in the Sandviksbodene 15–24. These storehouses, together with some privately owned storehouses in the neighbourhood, form the largest continuous and best-preserved ensemble of sea-facing timber warehouses in the row of storehouses that stretched from Rothaugen to Gamle Bergen around 1900.

Today the museum shows the history of the fishing industry in the protected storehouses, and the ticket also applies to Storeblå, a visitor centre for aquaculture run in cooperation with Lerøy. The museum is part of Museum Vest and has a bike rack, a café in the neighbourhood and a boat connection from Vågen in summer.

Highlights

• Protected storehouses in Sandviken
• The history of the fishing industry in Norway’s oldest museum of industrial history
• Storeblå visitor centre for aquaculture, included in the ticket
• The guided tour “Sjøbodenes hemmeligheter” (Secrets of the Storehouses) every Saturday
• Kayak loan and hire of a traditional rowing boat at the museum

Founded

1882

Operated by

Museum Vest

Admission & discounts

The ticket applies to both Norges Fiskerimuseum and the Storeblå visitor centre and is valid for 48 hours. The Bergenskortet gives free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 has a lift to all levels of the storehouses and parking for people with reduced mobility a short distance from the main entrance. A manual wheelchair can be borrowed at reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The mascot Silja Sild hides around the museum, and children can look for her. There is a Sunday workshop every Sunday 12:00–14:00 and creative workshops during school holidays. The Barnas Pass gives access to several Museum Vest museums.

Getting there & parking

From the centre you can walk past Bryggen, Rosenkrantztårnet and Håkonshallen and via the Storeblå visitor centre to the museum. There is a bike rack at the museum, and city bikes are at Sandvikstorget. Leisure boats cannot moor in the harbour.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Kafe Hjemom is next to the museum and is run by ALF, with café service from November. The museum has a museum shop and a lounge that is open on Sundays.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum rents out premises.

Plan your visit