Tønsberg Sjømannsforening (Seamen's Association) and Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) are based in Tollboden at Tollbodbryggen. Tønsberg Maritime History Center shows the town's proud maritime and whaling history, and is open from May to August. They offer tours for groups by appointment.
Come and see the film Whaling life at the Pelagos!
Tønsberg Maritime History Center
On Tollboden's 1st floor, we find a maritime exhibition split into one maritime and one whaling section, divided into the shipping town, the maritime town, the harbour town and the whaling town. Here, seafaring and whaling are richly illustrated through beautiful models, pictures, text boards and effects. It is equipped with several monitors that show life at sea and whaling. One of the monitors also shows text and images about the city's shipping companies and their vessels.
This is a historical center well worth visiting!
The former Tønsberg Seamen's Museum had its first premises in the seamen's school at Haugar, where the Haugar Vestfold Culture Museum is located today. Eventually, the seaman's school needed the premises itself, and the collection was handed over to the Vestfold County Museum. Tønsberg Seamen's Association bought the old Tollboden on 1 July 2005, and over the next two years the Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) with its own museum was realised. Extensive work, a lot of it with the help of volunteers, resulted in 4 great meeting and social gathering rooms, a kitchen, boardroom, office and lift. The ceremonial opening of the Tønsberg Historical Center on the 1st floor was conducted by shipowner Morten Wilh. Wilhelmsen on the 22nd of May, 2007.
Here you can explore the history of the Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy from the dissolution of the Kalmar Union all the way to today’s Norwegian Special Operations Command.
The museum offers unique exhibitions, including the “Old Department”, housed in the original exhibition hall from 1864.
The Naval Museum is also an exciting destination for families. Experience history up close through large vessels, cannons, and maritime artefacts, and enjoy the special opportunity to board both the gunboat KNM Blink and the submarine KNM Utstein. Bring the whole family to explore narrow cabins, technical solutions, and everyday life at sea during the Cold War.
The house, also known as "The Old Customs House", has functioned as a museum since 1962.
The maritime museum has the exhibition proud ships on world’s oceans which shows pictures and models of ships. With these pictures and models of ships you can see the different techniques, the dramatic and glorified illustrations of both sailboats and steamboats. There is a lot of exciting and dramatic stories about the ships and their destiny and the captains and their merits, that you can explore.
On the first floor the exhibition discoverers and adventurers take place. The exhibition displays 8 Larvikings that have challenged the ocean and the forces of nature more than most people. Their expeditions have had different purposes; some to prove a theory or to reach a goal, others for the pure excitement of an adventure. All of them have helped Larvik and Norway to get recognised. In the exhibition you will get to know Oscar Wisting, Thor Heyerdahl and Carl Anton Larsen.
Family-activities: Activity room for the kids during the summer season.
The Maritime Museum is open during the summer. Outside the summer season, it is open for events and by appointment.
Otherwise during the year, you can experience concerts and lectures with a maritime backdrop with a view of Larvik’s oldest public dock, Skottebrygga.
For guided tours off season, call 48 10 66 00.
See also Herregården and Larvik museum.
You can visit all three museums on the same ticket. If you are going to visit Herregården, you must pay the price listed there.
