Havnekvartalet is taking the initiative to develop a new attraction in Hammerfest through a preliminary project and invites both existing actors/attractions and new initiatives to join a shared effort as a Host City.
Tourism is experiencing explosive growth — and the highest interest is directed toward Northern Norway, according to figures from Menon Economics. In their projections for tourism in Northern Norway toward 2030, significant growth is expected in the cruise segment, especially expedition cruises.
But if Hammerfest is to claim a share of this rapid development, we must ensure that cruise ships — and other visitor segments — have a reason to come here. That’s why we’ve established a working group consisting of Visit Hammerfest, Hammerfest Municipality, and key business stakeholders to explore the possibility of developing an attraction that could serve as a true “reason to go.”
The expedition ship MS Renaissance docked at Havnekvartalet, March 2025. Photo: Facebook @Hammerfest Havn KF
At the same time, we aim to develop an attraction that the city’s residents — especially the younger generation — can also enjoy. We envision using modern technology to create an experience that schools and educational institutions can benefit from, focusing on history, natural sciences, and STEM subjects.
With a broad target audience, and by referencing visitor numbers at other attractions in Northern Norwegian harbor towns, we estimate around 100,000 annual guest visits.
It is important to emphasize that Havnekvartalet Utbygging AS and Hammerfest Havn KS will not own or operate the new attraction. This initiative is tied to the development of Havnekvartalet — which is an ideal location due to its traffic flow from the coastal route, cruise ships, express boats, and buses. One of the goals of the preliminary project is to establish an ownership structure for the attraction that can carry the development forward.
The attraction project currently carries the working title “The Arctic Ocean”, with the ambition of capturing the city’s past, present, and future tied to our lifeline — the sea.
Stories told at the venerable Isbjørnklubben about polar expeditions, Arctic hunting, and Pomor trade (which helped Hammerfest achieve city status) are envisioned as part of the new experience.
At the same time, the attraction will continue the storytelling of how Hammerfest has utilized the ocean’s resources for over 200 years — through fisheries, aquaculture, oil, and gas.
We also aim to showcase the green transition and future innovations, including the potential for an adjacent competence center that serves as a learning arena for local children and youth.
Do you have ideas or input for a new attraction in Hammerfest? Get in touch here – About Us
Written by: Katrine Næss and Knut-Arne Iversen
Last updated: 10.03.2025
Zoning Plan
March 5, 2025
The zoning plan represents the regulatory framework set by the building authorities for developing a specific area. The zoning plan is part of a larger planning hierarchy — in our case, the municipal sub-plan and the area zoning for Hammerfest city center (the City Center Plan).