The Gateway to the Barents Sea

THE HARBOUR

The harbour is - and has always been - Hammerfest's main artery. This well sheltered harbour is really the very foundation of prosperity for the town and for surrounding districts. Hammerfest has at all times been an important international arctic harbour for fisheries. Business and industry depend on the exploitation of the resources found along the coast and in the ocean. Comprehensive sevice facilities as well as maritime knowhow have been developed in the courde of time, making Hammerfest a natural service sentre for the fishing fleet in the Barents Sea.

Hammerfest's harbour is annually called by approximately 5.500 ships, not only fishing vessels, but also freighters. 

HAMMERFEST - A TOWN WITH ITS OWN HISTORICAL IDENTITY

People startet settling down in Hammerfest between 1250 and 1350 AD. On 17th of July 1789 Hammerfest became the first town north of Trondheim to be granted township rights. Gradually, as trade with Russia gained momentum (Pomor trade), hunters started tio target Arctic regions, using Hammerfest as a base. The first Arctic expedition set off from the town in 1795, and was soon followed by many others. From 1820 until more than a century later, Hammerfest was the centre of activity for Arctic expeditions and hunters.

Hammerfest developed into a merchant town with an international reputation, a fact that was reflected in its rapid development as a society. Both socially and materially, Hammerfest became a European town. Because of the town's significance for the continent as a grain trading centre, the English besieged and subsequently sacked it during the Napoleon wars.    

Hammerfest today! 

Hammerfest is now a modern town, yet to this very day, it bases its activities on trade and exploitation of the marine recources. Finnmark's principal town is dense and lively, all bright and busy during the day, whereas at night, it offers a broad spectrum of entertainment. Life's cultural aspects are also taken care of. There are all kinds of local activities, conserts, plays, and historical monuments. We recommend a visit to the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, where the town's history is presented.The visitor will also find a cinema, swimming pools and other sources of leisure.  

The countryside offers many possibilities for recreation, both on land and sea, and Hammerfest is a good starting point for a trip through Finnmark county.

THE PORT OF HAMMERFEST

The Port of Hammerferst is the regional port in Western Finnmark. In 1996, the Port of Hammerfest was announced an EU port. Among other things, this means that the fleet from EU countries can transfer fish and cargo through the port to various recipients in Europe.The veterinary bordercontrol station is located in Hammerfest, and features several control centres.

In addition to providing services directly to the fleet, Hammerfest can also offer all the services associated with a town. There are many hotels, with a wide range of prices and standards. There are also a large variety of places to eat; from small cafes to restaurants with exclusive menus. Hammerfest can also offer different activities, such as ski-tow, flood-lit ski tracks, a swimming hall, a cinema, concerts and performances, and of course all the usual public and private  services, such as hospital, police station, post office, schools for higher education, banks, insurance companies, lawyers, accountants, auditors, brokers, as well as technical and commercial consultants.

Hammerfest is a natural communications centre. Hammerfest Airport is one of Norway's busiest short runway airports, with more than 100.000 embarking and disembarking passsengers yearly. Wideroe's base for activities in northern Troms and Finnmark is in Hammerfest, and the town also plays a central role in Wideroe's air traffic network in the north. This means that Hammerfest has Finnmark's most extensive choice of air routes both within the county and to the rest of the country . The flight time to Oslo is less than 3 hours, and there are 6 daily departures to and from Tromsø.

From Hammerfest you can reach most places in Finnmark in a matter of hours. Hammerfest is therefore of considerable importance to long distance transport and communication within the county. The transport time to Oslo is 25-30 hours, and the large transport companies arrive daily in Hammerfest with their goods.

Hammerfest has been the most prominent commercial town in Finnmark for hundreds of years. The fact that it received town status in 1789 was a result of the importance it already had commercially.This is a status which we have looked after right up until today. The trade and service industry is today the largest and perhaps the most important business in Hammerfest, and it employs approximately 1.000 people. Hammerfest can offer most of what one expect to find in a town.Specialists, shops, department stores and a variety of chain stores. In Hammerfest we have more than 150 shops, businesses and craftsmen who will do their utmost to make your stay in Hammerfest as pleasant as possible