“The herring has come in!” exclaims the merchant Mack excitedly in Knut Hamsun’s novel “Deamers” (Svermere). This “silver of the sea” was a source of wealth that required hectic activity by the fishermen, everyone at the trading post, and the skippers who sailed their valuable cargoes south to eager customers.

What you will experience

The real-life merchant Erasmus Zahl was the man who established the trading post at Støtt, and who operated it for much of the 1800s. But did you know that Erasmus Zahl also gave economic support to the author Knut Hamsun, who in turn immortalised him in his novels, under the name of Mack?

Today, Støtt Old Trading Post, one of the best-preserved treasures of Nordland’s ancient coastal culture, is run by a fourth generation of proprietors. Støtt is a vibrant fishing community, and proud families still reside in the old wooden houses. Today the village draws visitors from afar, who come for unique nature adventures and cultural experiences.

Join us for a “journey” that explores our proud heritage, in the Fisheries Museum on the second floor of Støtt Old Trading Post. Storytellers will share tales of the fishermen’s life and toils, of the merchants, of the islands’ history, of the old craft of drying cod, and of the coastal trade with Bergen and export abroad. You also have the opportunity to see the striking illustrations that the renowned artist Kaare Espolin Johnson made for Johan Bojer’s novel The Last of the Vikings. And we’ll tell you more about the lives of the fishermen who inspired Bojer’s novels.

A three- or five-course seafood dinner in Restaurant Gammelbutikken and an overnight stay in the beautifully-restored Bakery will make your visit an unforgettable experience.

This is included

Guide

Useful information

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We strictly follow the guidelines set by the Norwegian health authorities.

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