Sandefjord Museum

The Sandefjord Museum is a maritime museum dedicated to Norway's whaling history and seafaring traditions. The buildings display hunting equipment, old photographs, and a large whale model, while visitors can also board a restored whale-catching ship from the 1950s to see how crews lived and worked.

The museum was founded in 1917 by Commander Lars Christensen and was one of Norway's earliest buildings designed specifically for museum purposes. Its creation reflected the importance of whaling to the region's economy and identity during that era.

The museum's collection includes 150,000 photographs documenting Norway's maritime traditions and the development of the whaling industry in Vestfold County.

The location has multiple exhibition areas that are easy to explore on foot with clear information throughout. Wear comfortable shoes for walking through the buildings and climbing aboard the ship to see the crew quarters and work spaces.

The museum holds one of Europe's largest collections of whaling artifacts, including rare objects and documents from expeditions to distant waters. These items tell stories of crews who worked on dangerous voyages and shaped the maritime legacy the region is known for.

Location: Sandefjord Municality

Architects: Niels Winge Grimnes

Website: http://hvalfangstmuseet.no

GPS coordinates: 59.13107,10.22713

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:23