Kategori: Museum

Vestfold archive

Vestfoldarkivet, the Vestfold Archive, is located in the Pindsle area of Sandefjord and preserves historical documents, photographs and records from across Vestfold. Here you can explore how people lived and worked in the past, investigate the history of local businesses and organisations, or research the region's heritage. The reading room provides access to original archive material, reference books and guidance from archivists who can help you find the information you need.

Discover the stories hidden in the archives
What can old letters, meeting records, accounts and photographs reveal about life in Vestfold? Vestfoldarkivet preserves historical sources documenting the development of local communities, working life, businesses and organisations over generations.
The archive holds approximately 6,300 linear metres of material from companies, private individuals, associations and the former Vestfold County Municipality. Its collections include records relating to industrial history, shipping, whaling and the region's labour movement.
These resources are particularly useful for family history research, local history projects, academic studies and anyone interested in exploring the past through original documents.

From whaling and industry to everyday life
Vestfoldarkivet preserves records from many of the businesses and organisations that have shaped the region. The collections include material from shipping companies, whaling businesses, industrial enterprises, trade unions and other associations. These historical sources can help you understand how businesses developed, how people worked and how changes in society affected communities across Vestfold. If you are particularly interested in the region's whaling history, you can combine your research with a visit to the Whaling Museum in Sandefjord. Its exhibitions explore the history of whaling, the people involved and life in the Southern Ocean.

Research historical documents in the reading room
At the Vestfold Archive reading room, you can examine original records, search databases and catalogues, consult reference books and receive guidance from the archive staff. You can also request copies of archive documents.
Seating is limited, so visitors are encouraged to arrange an appointment and request materials in advance. This allows the archivists to prepare the documents before you arrive. First-time visitors must register and complete a user agreement. Some collections are subject to access restrictions for privacy or copyright reasons.

Explore the collections online
You can begin your research before visiting. Vestfoldarkivet publishes archive catalogues through Arkivportalen, a national service that helps users discover historical collections. Some documents have also been digitised and made available through Digitalarkivet and other online resources.
The catalogues are a useful starting point when looking for records connected to a particular company, organisation or historical event. However, catalogue descriptions do not necessarily mean the original documents are available to view online.

Plan your visit
Vestfoldarkivet is located at Hinderveien 10, 3223 Sandefjord, in the Pindsle business and industrial area. The reading room is open on Wednesdays from 9 am to 3 pm. On selected Wednesdays, extended opening hours are available until 7:30 pm. Specific dates are announced by the archive. Visitors are encouraged to book a place and request archive material in advance, as the reading room has limited capacity.

Contact the archive on +47 970 67 296, with telephone hours Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm, or by email at vestfoldarkivet@vestfoldmuseene.no. Free parking is available outside the building. From Sandefjord railway station, the walk takes approximately 35–40 minutes. Local bus services also connect the station area with Pindsle.

There is no café on site, but visitors can bring food and eat in the foyer. Complimentary coffee and tea are available. Bags must be stored outside the reading room, while laptops and cameras are permitted.

Visit the Vestfold Archive website for current opening hours, reading room regulations and information about requesting archive materials.

 

Berger museum

Berger Museum is housed in the former Fossekleven textile factory in Berger, between Sande and Svelvik. Discover the textile industry, the people and the traditions that shaped one of Norway's best-preserved industrial communities. The museum shares its premises with Fossekleiva Cultural Centre.

The story behind Berger blankets
From 1879 to 2003, Berger was an important centre of Norwegian textile production. Its factories produced carpets, woollen blankets and fabrics for clothing and furniture. The main exhibition features original pattern sketches, fabric samples and finished textiles. The museum's collection includes more than 3,000 registered designs, illustrating how patterns, colours and weaving techniques developed over generations. You can also explore how initial sketches became finished textiles and how Norwegian and European design influenced production.

A community shaped by industry
Berger grew around its textile factories, which influenced both working life and everyday life. Many historic buildings remain, including the factories and former workers' homes. The museum tells the stories of factory workers, owners and the wider community, showing how textile production helped shape an entire village.

From textile factory to cultural centre
Today, the former factory is a meeting place for art and culture. Berger Museum and Fossekleiva Cultural Centre share the historic building, where industrial heritage lives alongside contemporary cultural activities. A permanent exhibition explores the transformation from an industrial community into a centre for art and culture, highlighting the people who brought new life to the former factory. In the same building, Café Jebsen serves lunch, coffee and cakes. There is also a shop selling textiles inspired by historic Berger patterns and other locally inspired products.

Guided tours and visitor information
Berger Museum offers guided tours for groups by prior arrangement, including outside regular opening hours. Educational activities are also available for school groups. The museum operates seasonal opening hours. During the autumn period, it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00. Opening times and admission prices vary throughout the year.

The museum is located at Bergerveien 2b, with parking available at Fossekleiva Cultural Centre. The nearest bus stop is Berger gård, approximately a three-minute walk away. Check current opening hours, admission prices, guided tours and accessibility information.

 

The Aluminium Museum

The Aluminium Museum in Holmestrand tells the story of the metal that helped shape the town and became an important part of Norwegian industry. The museum is housed in the oldest part of the factory, right next to today's production facilities.

From coffee pots to modern technology
What do a coffee pot, a car wheel and a food can have in common? Aluminium. At the museum, you'll discover how this lightweight, versatile metal developed from a new industrial material into an essential part of everyday life. The exhibition traces the industry's development from its early days to today's high-tech production. Learn how aluminium is produced and processed, explore its properties and discover how new products and manufacturing methods have evolved.

An important part of Holmestrand's history
The aluminium industry has shaped Holmestrand for more than a century. In the premises where AS Sveiseverket began operating in 1916, the museum tells the story of the people, technology and industry that helped develop the town. The Aluminium Museum opened in 2002 and is part of Vestfold Museums. The exhibition was renewed in 2019.

Aluminium and recycling
The story continues just outside the museum walls. The neighbouring factory is still operating, with production largely based on recycled aluminium. At the museum, you'll learn why aluminium is well suited to recycling and how the metal is used in modern industry. The exhibition connects local industrial heritage with technology, resource use and environmental issues.

Plan your visit
The Aluminium Museum is located at Weidemanns gate 8 in central Holmestrand, approximately an 11-minute walk from the railway station. The museum is generally open from March to November, with opening hours varying throughout the season. Guided tours for groups can be arranged in advance.

Facilities include a wheelchair ramp, a single-level exhibition area and an accessible toilet. Companion cards are accepted. Check current opening hours, admission prices and guided tour bookings at Vestfold Museums.

 

Haugar Art Museum

Haugar Art Museum is housed in the former Seamen's School on a hill in central Tønsberg. The historic brick building is home to changing exhibitions and highlights from the museum's collection, featuring Norwegian and international art.

Discover Norwegian and international art
At Haugar, you'll encounter art in many forms, from painting and printmaking to sculpture and installations. Exhibitions feature established artists and fresh perspectives, exploring different materials, styles and themes. The museum's collection exhibition includes pop art, abstract works and material-based art. Displays change regularly, offering something new to discover on return visits.

Andy Warhol and the museum's collection
An important part of Haugar's collection consists of works by American pop artist Andy Warhol, including pieces from his After Munch series, in which he reinterpreted famous motifs by Edvard Munch. The collection also includes works by Siri Aurdal, Elisabeth von Krogh, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Pål Vigeland, among others. The artworks on display vary depending on exhibitions and loans.

Art for children and families
Children can explore art through picture hunts, creative tasks and hands-on activities. With the digital art guide Kunstporten, families can discover the exhibitions through audio, images and videos. Children can also complete special missions as art agents.
Creative workshops and other family activities take place on selected days. Check the museum's programme for upcoming events.

Guided tours, museum shop and café
For a deeper introduction to the exhibitions, private guided tours can be arranged, including outside regular opening hours. The museum shop sells art books, exhibition catalogues, jewellery, ceramics and gifts. You can visit the shop without purchasing a museum ticket. At Uro Café and Bar, you can enjoy coffee, pastries or lunch. The café also hosts cultural events and offers evening opening on selected days.

Explore more art and history in Tønsberg
Haugar is well placed for combining art with other attractions in town. Continue to Slottsfjell Museum, where you can explore Vestfold's history from the Viking Age to more recent times. For further inspiration, discover art experiences across Vestfold.

Plan your visit
Haugar Art Museum is located at Gråbrødregaten 17 in Tønsberg, approximately a nine-minute walk from the railway station. The museum is normally open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. It is closed on Mondays. Opening hours may vary on public holidays and during special events.

Facilities include lifts between exhibition floors, accessible toilets and designated accessible parking near the museum wall. Personal pushchairs are not permitted in the exhibition areas, but the museum has pushchairs available to borrow. Companion cards are accepted.

Check current opening hours, admission prices, exhibitions and guided tours at Haugar Art Museum.

Kaupang Viking Town

Kaupang lies beside Viksfjorden in Larvik, where one of Norway's earliest trading towns emerged around AD 800. Discover Viking Age trade, craftsmanship and everyday life through exhibitions, reconstructions and guided experiences.

Where Vikings lived and traded
More than 1,200 years ago, people from different countries gathered at Kaupang to trade and produce goods. Its location beside the fjord made it an important trading centre. Today, you can explore a reconstructed Viking house and a model showing how parts of the trading settlement may have looked.

Discover the archaeological finds
Archaeologists have studied Kaupang since the 19th century, but much of the original settlement remains buried. The exhibitions reveal what excavations have uncovered and what the findings tell us about trade, crafts and power. Guided walks also introduce the people who lived here and the burial sites that offer insights into Viking Age life and death.

Viking activities and guided experiences
During summer, children and adults can enjoy activities such as archery, archaeological digging, storytelling and guided walks around northern Kaupang. Activities follow a seasonal programme. Indoor and outdoor guided tours are also available when other activities are not taking place.

Explore Kaupang's heritage trail
Fasanatur is a free heritage trail with questions and activities about the area. It starts at the car park and can be explored throughout the year, even when the visitor centre is closed. A simpler version is available for children. For more Viking history, follow the Viking Trail through Vestfold to burial grounds and other historic sites.

Group visits to Kaupang
Kaupang Viking Town welcomes groups by prior arrangement. Visits can include storytelling, traditional crafts, Viking games and food prepared over an open fire. Contact the Kaupang Project in advance to arrange a programme.

Plan your visit
Kaupang Viking Town is located at Kaupangveien 276, beside Viksfjorden in Larvik. The visitor centre normally opens from late June to late August. Visits outside the summer season can be arranged in advance. Admission fees apply to the visitor centre, while the outdoor heritage trail is free and accessible independently of opening hours. Check opening hours, ticket prices and activities at Kaupang Viking Town.

Stokke Bygdetun

Stokke Bygdetun is a local heritage museum in Bokemoa, Stokke, established in 1978 and recognised as Vestfold's oldest museum of its kind. Here you can explore historic buildings, step inside an old classroom and discover how people lived and worked in earlier times. Mainly run by volunteers from Stokke Historielag, the local history association, the museum brings local heritage to life through exhibitions, traditional crafts, activities and a summer café.

Discover life on a Norwegian farm around 1900
Hauganhuset is the main building at Stokke Bygdetun. Built in Arnadal in 1740, it was moved to the museum in 1978. Inside, the rooms are furnished to reflect life on a prosperous Norwegian farm around 1900, with a kitchen, dining room, small bedroom and formal sitting room. The basement contains exhibitions about traditional crafts, shoemaking, shipping and whaling, while the upper floor explores textile crafts, domestic work and linen production. Furniture, tools and everyday objects offer a glimpse of life before modern conveniences.

Step inside an old Norwegian classroom
In Bjerkneshuset, built in 1892, you can visit a traditional classroom and a children's museum displaying dolls, toys and objects from earlier generations. The building also contains an old-fashioned general store, where you can find local history books, cards, toys and handmade crafts. Children and adults can discover how school, playtime and shopping have changed over the years.

From blacksmithing to horse-drawn carriages
Several buildings at Stokke Bygdetun tell the story of traditional trades and rural working life. The smithy hosts courses and demonstrations in blacksmithing, while the carriage house displays historic horse-drawn vehicles, sleighs, harnesses and an exhibition about the history of trotting in Stokke. The craft room is used for weaving and other traditional textile work. The museum barn also contains exhibitions on agriculture and local history. Craft activities take place on selected dates or by arrangement, so check the programme if you would like to see a demonstration.

Sunday café and events in the museum courtyard
During the summer season, you can enjoy coffee, Norwegian waffles or traditional sour cream porridge beneath the old fruit trees. The café is run by volunteers, and on selected days freshly baked bread is also available from the traditional oven in Bryggerhuset. Throughout the year, Stokke Bygdetun hosts markets, lectures, courses and family activities. Garden Day, Children's Day, Craft Day and the traditional Christmas market are examples of events featured in the museum's programme. There is often just as much happening in the courtyard as inside the historic buildings.

Combine your visit with a walk in Bokemoa
Stokke Bygdetun is situated beside Bokemoa, a woodland area with beech trees, walking trails and an illuminated exercise trail. The Nordskogen cultural trail also passes through the area, with information about local wildlife, plants, geology and settlement history. A woodland walk makes a natural addition to a museum visit. You can also bring a picnic and enjoy it at the outdoor tables beneath the fruit trees. For another combination of art and nature in Stokke, visit Sti for øye – Path for the Eye at Fossnes. This outdoor art trail winds for almost two kilometres through the forest, with artworks created specifically for the natural surroundings.

Guided tours and private events
Stokke Bygdetun offers guided group tours by advance arrangement. The tours introduce the historic buildings, museum collections and stories of the local community. The museum also has venues available for meetings and private gatherings. The museum barn accommodates up to 60 dining guests and has a kitchen, wireless internet and a projector. Bryggerhuset provides seating for up to 30 people in two historic rooms. Venue hire and guided tours must be arranged in advance. The person signing a venue hire agreement must be at least 30 years old.

Plan your visit
Stokke Bygdetun is located at Moaveien 19, 3160 Stokke, next to Bokemoa in Sandefjord municipality. The museum is normally open to the public on Sundays during the summer season, from 12 noon to 4 pm. During opening hours, the café serves refreshments including coffee, waffles, traditional sour cream porridge, squash and ice cream. Additional food may be available during special events.

The museum office is staffed on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm. These are office hours, not regular opening hours for the museum exhibitions. Special events also take place outside the summer season. Guided group tours must be arranged in advance, with prices provided when booking. Check current admission arrangements before visiting.

The museum consists of several historic buildings with different levels and staircases. Visitors with accessibility requirements should contact the museum in advance for information about access and available arrangements.

Visit the Stokke Bygdetun website for current opening hours, events, guided tours and venue hire information.

Preus Museum

Preus Museum is Norway's national museum of photography, located at historic Karljohansvern in Horten. Explore the development of photography through historic images, cameras, photographic art and changing exhibitions.

From early cameras to contemporary photography
How has photography changed the way we see the world? The museum's permanent exhibition traces the development of photography from its earliest techniques to today's digital images. Through photographs, cameras and technical equipment, discover photography as an art form, a means of documentation and part of everyday life. The museum holds an extensive collection of Norwegian and international photography.

Changing exhibitions, new perspectives
Two galleries present changing exhibitions featuring photography and visual art from different periods. The exhibitions explore a variety of themes and artistic approaches, offering something new to discover on return visits. Check the current programme before visiting.

A photography museum in a former naval warehouse
Preus Museum occupies the fourth floor of Magasin A, a historic brick building from the 1860s, originally used as a naval warehouse. In 2001, architect Sverre Fehn redesigned the interior for museum use. The building provides a distinctive setting for photography while connecting the museum to Horten's naval heritage.

Guided tours, school visits and photographic heritage
Guided tours are available for groups by prior arrangement. School classes and kindergarten groups accompanied by teachers receive free admission. The museum also has a specialist photography library and a national centre for photographic conservation. The library is temporarily closed to regular visitors while work on the collections continues, although borrowing is still possible through the museum.

Explore more of Karljohansvern
Combine your visit with the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum, located in the same building and dedicated to Norway's naval history. You can also follow the historic walking route around Karljohansvern, passing former naval buildings, the Horten Canal and coastal green spaces.

Plan your visit
Preus Museum is located at Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 7, approximately a 20-minute walk from Horten town centre and the ferry terminal. The museum is temporarily closed from 1 October through 20 November 2026, with reopening planned for 21 November. Regular opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is free for visitors under 18 and accompanying carers. Guided group tours must be booked in advance.

The museum has lift access and accessible toilets. Wheelchair users must be accompanied by another person due to fire safety requirements. Parking is free for up to three hours in the gravel car park outside the former shipyard wall, but registration through EasyPark is required. Check current opening hours, admission prices, exhibitions and accessibility information at Preus Museum.

 

The Whale catcher Southern Actor

Moored at Museumsbrygga in Sandefjord, Southern Actor is the world's only remaining fully operational whale catcher from the industrial whaling era. Built in England in 1950, the vessel took part in Antarctic whaling until 1962. During the summer season, visitors can step aboard and discover an important part of Sandefjord's maritime history.

Step aboard a piece of whaling history
Southern Actor has been carefully restored to preserve as much of its original character as possible. On board, you'll find an authentic post-war whale catcher, complete with its original steam engine and equipment that offers insights into working life at sea. The vessel was built for Sevilla Whaling Co. Ltd., associated with the Scottish shipping company Chr. Salvesen & Co. Its funnel still displays the company's distinctive colours.

For more about the people, expeditions and impact of whaling on Sandefjord, visit the Whaling Museum, just a few hundred metres away.

From Antarctic waters to Sandefjord
After many years as a working whale catcher, Southern Actor ended up at a shipbreaking yard in northern Spain. In 1989, the vessel was saved from being scrapped and brought to Sandefjord, where it underwent extensive restoration with significant contributions from former whalers. Its original steam engine is still operational, and Southern Actor remains capable of sailing. As a working heritage vessel, it offers a rare opportunity to discover the technology of industrial whaling. In 1999, Southern Actor received the Olavsrosa heritage quality award from Norsk Kulturarv.

Visit the whale catcher in summer
Southern Actor is moored at Museumsbrygga, Brygga 1, in central Sandefjord.
The regular visitor season runs from 15 June to 31 August, with opening hours from 11 am to 4 pm when the vessel is in port and available to visitors. Check current opening hours and admission arrangements before visiting, as the vessel may also be away on other assignments.

See current visitor information from the Whaling Museum.

Charter trips aboard Southern Actor
Would you like to experience this historic whale catcher at sea? From May to September, Southern Actor is available for private group charters along the Vestfold coast. A charter trip offers the opportunity to experience the original steam engine in operation and enjoy the coastline from the deck of a historic working vessel. Food and drinks can also be arranged in advance.

During part of the summer season, charters are available only after 5 pm. Find out more about charter trips aboard Southern Actor and how to arrange a trip.

The Whaling Museum

The Whaling Museum in central Sandefjord explores the history of whaling, wildlife in the polar regions and the people who worked in an industry that played a major role in the town's development. Discover a life-size blue whale model, animals from the Arctic and Antarctic, and stories behind Norwegian whaling.

A blue whale suspended from the ceiling
In the museum's original building from 1917, a life-size blue whale model hangs from the ceiling, giving visitors of all ages a sense of the enormous scale of the world's largest animal. Surrounding the whale is a zoological exhibition featuring preserved animals and birds from the polar regions. Here, you can get a closer look at species adapted to some of the world's harshest climates.

The people behind the whaling industry
The permanent exhibition We Went Whaling explores whaling history from different perspectives. Photographs, films, objects and archival material tell the stories of Norwegian expeditions to Antarctica, encounters between cultures and the people who worked in the whaling industry. The exhibition also explores how whaling affected families back home. While many men spent months away at sea, everyday life continued in Sandefjord. Whaling created jobs and income, but also led to severe declines in whale populations and difficult conditions for many of those working in the industry.

Step aboard a historic whale catcher
Want to see what a working whale catcher looked like? During the summer, you can visit Southern Actor, moored at Museumsbrygga when available to visitors. Built in 1950, Southern Actor still has its original steam engine. On board, you can discover more about the vessel, working conditions and the technology used during the industrial whaling era. The ship has its own visitor season and may be away on other assignments. Check availability before planning your visit.

Explore more of Sandefjord's history
Whaling has left a lasting mark on Sandefjord. After visiting the museum, continue towards the harbour to see the Whaling Monument by Norwegian sculptor Knut Steen. Depicting whalers in an open boat, the sculpture is a reminder of the industry that helped shape the town's history and identity.

Plan your visit
The Whaling Museum is located at Museumsgaten 39 in central Sandefjord. During the low season, from 12 October, the museum is normally open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. During the high season, from 1 June to 31 August, it is open daily from 11 am to 4 pm. Monday opening also applies during selected school holidays. Hours may vary around seasonal changes and public holidays.

Admission prices vary by season, and children aged six and under enter free of charge. Guided tours for groups can be booked in advance. The museum has a lift, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible toilets. Parking is available nearby, and the museum is within walking distance of Sandefjord railway station.

Check current opening hours, admission prices and events at the Whaling Museum.