Perched on the island of Havøya, Havøysund is a small fishing village on the north coast of Norway. It is clustered with buildings constructed in the wake of World War II, following the liberation of Finnmark by Norwegian and Soviet forces.
Occupying a bright red rectory in the heart of Havøysund is the Måsøy Museum, which brings to life the stories of Norway’s north coast. Highlights of the collection include a radio transmitter used during the Cold War and the country’s first winch, as well as a fishing boat dating back to the 1950s. The Måsøy Museum also hosts changing exhibitions about the region’s Sami cultural heritage.
Adjacent to the museum is the Havøysund Church, which was rebuilt in 1960 after being burned by the Germans during their 1944 evacuation of Finnmark. Designed by Esben Poulsson, it houses a beautiful altarpiece and pulpit decorated by the Norwegian artist Terje Grøstad.
Getting there
Havøysund is just over two hours’ drive from Lakselv Airport, which has regular flights to Oslo and Tromsø. The village is also a stop on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express, which connects south to Bergen and north to Kirkenes. The centre of Havøysund is small enough to explore on foot.