Arendal

Arendal is a small town on the south coast of Norway. After the geographical boundaries were extended to include four surrounding communities in 1992, the town now is the tenth largest in Norway in terms of population, but still contains only about 40.000 inhabitants in total.

It was originally called 'Venice of Scandinavia', the town is built on seven islands, with a network of canals surrounding it. Most of these canals have later been filled in, but plans are to reopen some again.

The most glorious period of the town history was during the sailing ships era, in the 18th and 19th century. It was at one time one of the largest and most important towns in Norway. Its wealth was based on shipping, with the surrounding iron ore mining, iron works and timber providing the most important trade. It had connections to all important trading centres of the world, and had better contact with Europe than with the country's capital of Christiania (or Oslo, as it was later to be called).

The introduction of steam ships gradually reduced the town's importance, but the old traditions have been retained, for example in the atmosphere of the Tyholmen area, where the collection of wooden buildings is reckoned to be among the most picturesque and best preserved of its kind, and in 1992 was awarded the much coveted Europa-Nostra prize.

The town has a number of tourist attractions to offer. Apart from the town itself, which is well worth a leisurely guided walk, the main attraction in summer is the sea and the skerries landscape. 

'Pollen'

The harbour area "Pollen" teems with boats and life in the summer, and idyllic swimming beaches or skerry rocks are within easy access.

Arendal Marina	58°27,5’ N 08°48’ E	Tyholmen/Pollen Jürgen Sievers  Tel 37 01 32 17 / 37 01 31 47	150 + berths
Seilerhytta		Tel 37 08 62 65 / 907 62 528	30 berths

Read more about Arendal