English
Welcome to the Coastal Museum Norveg! Experience our coastal culture in the past and the present!
Through exciting stories and living coastal communities, we invite you on a journey through the Namdal coast’s 10 000- year history. This is not a traditional museum surrounded by a fence and gate, we have the entire coastal region as a working field. The museum consists of several departments, but the biggest ones are Norveg, the old trading house Berggården, and the fishing village Sør-Gjæslingan. They all have one thing in common, they are a part of our culture and history. Visit our Aquaculture Exhibition Center as well and get an insight in the development of the modern salmon industry and farming.
Norveg – a center for coastal culture and industry
Norveg is the main building for the Coastal Museum. Here you will find:
- Our permanent exhibition “From the Stone Age to high-tech society”.
- “The room of possibilities”, SalMar’s exhibition informing about modern aquaculture.
- A gallery with altering pictures and paintings.
- Museum shop with an exciting selection of gift items, jewelry and souvenirs.
- A small café.
From the Stone Age to high-tech society
The exhibition lets you experience the coastal and fishing nation of Norway over 10 000 years. You begin with a Norway covered in ice before being guided through the coast’s history up to the present day. In June 2023, the new part of the museum opened. Through exciting technology, you get to learn more about modern salmon farming in Salmon Center Rørvik. This is the land-based part of the exhibition center for aquaculture. It is also a sea-based part with the boat MS Sunniva which takes you to a seawater pin for salmon, as well as Sør-Gjæslingan.
This exhibition is one of many the Coastal Museum has to offer. The other museums Berggården, Bryggene, Vågsenget, Telemuseet and Sør-Gjæslingan are open in the summer season or by agreement.
About Norveg
The name “Norveg” comes from the Norse norðrvegr and means “the road towards north”. The building was designed by the architect Guðmundur Jónsson and was nominated to the European architecture-award “Mies van der Rohe Award” in 2005. The museum was nominated to “European Museum of the Year Award” in 2006. Norveg has already become a national cultural treasure. The building itself is worth a visit.
Salmon Center Rørvik
The exhibition center for aquaculture is a partnership between the Coastal Museum Norveg and SalMar and conveys the development of the modern Norwegian aquaculture industry. In the permanent exhibition in Norveg, you get to explore the “room of opportunity”, and there is also a possibility to join a boat excursion to a modern salmon breeding facility.
In Norveg
The exhibition center on land is a part of the permanent exhibition on the Coastal Museum Norveg. Here you get to know the salmon breeding from pioneering times to the present day, and perhaps into the future? You can explore on your own terms through the interactive exhibition “The Room of Opportunity”.
“The room of opportunity” is included in the regular ticket for the museum.
On the sea
The boat MS Sunniva takes you on a expedition to a seawater pen (merde?) in the “Unique time travel in seafood history”.
The expedition in 2024 is available: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from the 20th of June until the 2nd of August. Requests outside the regular trips can be discussed, contact resepsjonnorveg@museetmidt.no /48 88 00 24. Group tours can be tailored to your needs.
Program:
• The excursion starts with a guided tour in the exhibition in Norveg 10:30 o’clock.
• Departure from Norveg jetty (?) at 11:00 o’clock.
• The fish farmers inform about modern salmon farming on the salmon pen.
• The excursion continues to Sør-Gjæslingan.
• A guided tour with the rorbuhost on Sør-Gjæslingan.
• Warm seafood lunch with salmon, coffee and water.
Tickets (maximum 12 passengers per trip):
• Adults kr 350,-
• Children kr 150,-
Beware of cancellation in case of bad weather conditions.
Berggården
Berggården is an old trading house from the 1880s, with an authentic shop, living rooms and interior from the “Rørvik Kaffistova” on the 1st floor. The Coastal Museums exhibitions on the 2nd floor.
The Coastal town of Rørvik, with its special history, has always fascinated travelers along the shipping route. The town flourished at the end of the 1800s, and within a couple of decades Rørvik emerged as bustling, coastal trading town. Of particular importance to the town’s development was merchant Johan Berg, who build a large trading house here in the 1880s.
A lively commercial center developed in Rørvik. Some were involved in both buying and selling, while others established specialized businesses. Only the coffee shops numbered well over 10!
The shop is practically untouched after it was closed at the end of the 1960s. The Woxengs Collections exhibition can be found on the 2nd floor. In the summer of 2015, the Leirvik collection was also displayed on the 2nd floor. In the summer of 2016, the photographic equipment exhibition from Sverre Strand was set up on the 1st floor next to the authentic shop. There are more than 400 cameras on display.
Berggården is open in the summer season, or by agreement outside of the season.
The history of Berggården
Johan Berg (1839-1929) and Betzy Berg (1853-1925) played an important role in the development of Rørvik as a trading town. In the late 1870s, they established Berggården, which grew to have a big influence as the trading house in the coast of Namdal.
The main building was located so that it was visible to those arriving by boat. In the main building, the Berg family had their grand residence – and when there were fine/important (?) visitors, they were welcome to stay with them.
In the store there were consumer and equipment goods of all kinds, fabrics, clothing and fishing equipment sold. The bread products were produced in an own bakery. Berg also bought goods, often as payments for other goods such as herring, fish, eggs, butter, meat and milk. In the farmyard there was a bakery, a storehouse, and an outbuilding with barns and stables. Down by the sea was a beautiful garden. There was also a large warehouse – Heimbrygga – which was used for soring flour and salting fish.
The store, living room and kitchen have been preserved so you get an insight into what life was like in Berggården in the early 1900s. Permanent exhibitions include «Rørvik Kaffistova» (opened in 1913), a fisheries department, and a department showing the fisherman’s kitchen and the fisherman’s tools, a school room and a workshop. If you walk through the garden, you will find out permanently exhibited boat collection.
Norsk Telemuseum
In 1876 a telegraph station was established in Rørvik, and a few years later, in 1891, the telefonsamlaget was founded with the aim of expanding the telephone network in the Vikna-area.
The telehistorical collection and Rørvik Coastal Radio from 1936 are today a part of the Coastal Museum. The Museum is located in the library building opposite of Berggården.
The Telemuseum displays a selection of the Norwegian telecommunication’s history. There are many generations of telephones, the old Rørvik coastal radio station and many exciting examples of how it was to call “back in the day”. This can be interesting and fun both for people to remember, but also for the younger children who were born with a phone in their hand.
The museum is open in the summer season, or by agreement outside of the season.
Sør-Gjæslingan
Experience the historic fishing village Sør-Gjæslingan, a natural gem on the Namdal coast, with Folda as its nearest neighbor. Time has stood still here. Find peace and relax from a hectic everyday life!
How to visit Sør-Gjæslingan
Hurtigbåt – speedboat
The speedboat Namdalingen takes you to Sør-Gjæslingan in the summer season. The boat goes both from Rørvik and Namsos. In the weekends you can join a day trip from Namsos (Saturdays) and Rørvik (Sundays). You will find the timetable here (link?).
Expedition with Salmon Center Rørvik
In collaboration with Salmon Center Rørvik, we offer expeditions from the Coastal Museum Norveg to the seawater pens next to Bondøya, and further to Sør-Gjæslingan. Departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the summer season.
Own boat
It is possible to travel to Sør-Gjæslingan with your own boat. Guest quays are available both on Flatholmen (the main island) and on Heimværet.
Overnight stay
If you want to really experience Sør-Gjæslingan, we recommend staying there for a few days and sleep in a rorbu (cottage).
You must know this!
Welcome to Sør-Gjæslingan – A national protected culture environment
BEFORE ARRIVAL
You need to bring along: Sleeping bag or duvet, pillowcase, bedsheet and towels. It is possible to rent bedding at Sør-Gjæslingan, you need to inform the host of this before your arrival.
Extra mattress/extra travel bed: There are extra mattresses in all the rorbuer, these can be rented if needed. We don’t have a children’s bed available.
Transport: The Coastal Museum rents out the rorbuer, apartments and assembly halls, we do not have the responsibility for the transport to and from Sør-Gjæslingan. At atb.no you can find the timetable for the boat. If you need transport for days or times that are not available, you can contact the Coastal museum, and we will try to find alternatives.
Standard: Rorbuene have a simple standard, much like the fishermen had 100 years ago. Alle the rorbuer has stoves, pans, casseroles and coffee kettles. Alle the rorbuer have electricity, except for Lyngsnesholbua which has a gas stove. There is cold water in all the rorbuer. The county recommends boiling the water before drinking it. At the sanitary facilities there are toilets and showers. It is not allowed to erect tents of any kins at Sør-Gjæslingan.
Terms for cancellation: Rorbuene must be paid in advance. Changes, delays or cancellation must be given by written notice 10 days after your order confirmation. After this the following cancellation terms applies:
- Within 21 days before arrival: 250 kroner
- 20-11 days before arrival: 50 percent refund
- 10-0 day(s) before arrival: No refund
Cancellation due to weather conditions are accepted if the public transport is cancelled due to the weather. Cancellation on short term due to sickness have to be covered by your travel insurance.
Force Majeure: By force majeure normal rules apply. Events outside our control like strike, lockout, fire, missing deliveries etc. gives both parts the right to end the booking without compensation.
ON SØR-GJÆSLINGAN
Arrival: On arrival on Sør-Gjæslingan the host will be at the dock upon your arrival. They will follow you to the store where you check in. There is a guided tour of the island by the host, the time for this you set with the host.
Check-in: Check-in happened with the host in the store.
The store: The store has a limited selection of groceries, snacks and cold drinks. There is also a selection of souvenirs and a limited selection of fishing supplies. The store is normally open one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.
Coffee shop: Gjæslingans Friends sells waffles and coffee in Fiskarheimen several weekends during the summer.
Rowboat: There are rowboats for the use of our guests. To get over to Heimværet with the rorbuene Hyllabua and Petterbua you must use the boats. The museum have lifejackets you can borrow, these you can get in the store.
Toilets/showers: The toilets and the showers in the sanitary facilities are washed several times a day.
Electricity: Electricity are generated by an aggregate and runs from 07:30 t0 23:00 every day. There is not electricity during the night.
Consideration for others: Of consideration by other guests and locals we wish for the fishing village to be quiet from 23:00.
Garbage: Information about the garbage and recycling will be given you’re your arrival.
Bonfire and barbeque: Bonfires are restricted on Sør-Gjæslingan. It is only allowed with open fires on marked places or by a special deal with the host.
Heating: There are wood stoves and wood, and electric panel ovens.
Pets: Pets are allowed in the sjå (outer part of the rorbu). Due to allergies, we ask that they are not allowed into the main part, except in specified rorbuer. You must have both dogs and cats on leashed on Sør-Gjæslingan due to nesting birds.
DEPARTURE
Before departure the rental unit needs to be cleaned up and washed. All the equipment you need to do this is available in the rorbu, if something is missing ask the host. We also ask you to take of our sheets and pillowcases of the bed and put them in bags in cases marked “Skittent tøy” (Dirty laundry). A list of what is supposed to be cleaned will be handed out by the host at check-in. If the cleaning is not done, or not sufficient the renter will be fined a cleaning fee.
Check-out: Check-on happens in the store with the host. Check-out is at the latest an hour before the departure of the boat. In some cases where new guests are arriving the host might ask you if you can check-out a bit earlier. If there are no guests checking in after you, you can also check-out later, ask the host about this. The Fiskebruk can be used as a waiting area.
Guest quays
There are two guest quays on Sør-Gjæslingan. The first one is located on Flatholmen, while the other one is located on Heimværet.
The guest quays have electricity in the timeperiod: 7:30 until 23:00.
Price per day: kr 150,-. Up to 3 hours: kr 50,-.
You can pay with cash or card in the store.
Beware that there are approx. 2 meter difference in high tide/low tide.
Map of Sør-Gjæslingan
Check the location of the various rorbuene in Sør-Gjæslingan before you book your vacation.
The Coastal Museum Norveg rents our historic rorbuer in Sør-Gjæslingan. The museum disposes of a total oof 11 rorbuer on Heimværet, Flatholmen, Velfjordnakken, and Lungsnesholmen. To get between Flatholmen and Heimværet, guest can use a rowing boat.
The rental units are close to private properties. These are on the map, but not marked with names.
http://www.jehnichen.eu/norveg1
To get to know Sør-Gjæsingan, look at the numbers on the buildings.
These are located on Heimværet:
1. Hyllebua
2. Petterbua
3. Salterie (not for rent)
4. Skolestua (for artists who display their art in Norveg a later time)
5. Uthus for Skolestua
These are located on Flatholmen:
6. Helgestua (1 and 2)
7. The sanitary facility
8. Trandamperiet (not for rent)
9. Væreierboligen/Kjøpstu (10 beds). This is also where the store is located.
10. Månesbua (1 and 2)
11. Naustloftet
12. Fiskarheimen (apartment and for special occasions)
17. Lissbutikken (not for rent)
18. Feskmottaket (not for rent)
These are located on Velfjordnakken:
13. Staværingsbua (8 beds)
14. Nakktun (for special occasions)
On Lyngsnesholmen is (Connected to Flatholmen):
15. Lyngsnesholmbua
On Karlholmen is:
16. Bestemorbua (not for rent)
GPS: N64.7422953/E010.7749485
Tour
Get to know the history in more detail! The host would love to take you on a tour and tell you more about Sør-Gjæslingan’s history.
In the summer season, guided tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays when the speedboat is in port. You can also plan a guided tour with the host. The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
Individuals kr 100,-. It is free for children under 16. Tickets can be bought in the store.
Guided tours for bigger groups: Contact resepsjonnorveg@museetmidt.no or by phone 488 80 024.
