Nyksund is an old fishing village on Vesterålen that went from bustling harbour to ghost town to artist colony. It sits on two islands, Nyksundøya and Ungsmaløya, connected by a dam at the northwestern tip of Langøya.
The story starts in the late 18th century, when a merchant saw the potential of this remote outpost near rich fishing grounds. By 1860 Nyksund was a busy centre of maritime activity, and by 1900 it had become the second largest fishing village in Vesterålen. The economy ran on the seasonal migration of skrei, the winter cod that passes through on its way to spawning grounds in Lofoten.
Work on the breakwater between the two islands began in 1874. It took until autumn 1878 to finish because violent storms kept delaying the work. In 1880, another storm damaged it again. A major fire in 1934 destroyed much of the buildings along the inner harbour. By 1945, the village had nine fish processing plants, four shops, a bakery, a smithy, and about 180 people in some 30 households. Only 3 or 4 of those households actually fished. The rest ran the factories, shops, and services. Most fishermen only came to Nyksund for the winter season.
There was no road to Nyksund until 1960. After the war, modern boats with powerful engines made it unnecessary to live so close to the fishing grounds. The fish factories left one by one, and neighbouring Myhre took over. By 1975 everyone had moved out.
That could have been the end, but in 1985 German professor Burkhard Herrmann discovered Nyksund and started a revival project. Students and travelling artists came in summer. The lease was not renewed in 1989 and things declined again, but growing tourist numbers brought a second revival in the mid-1990s. Today many houses have been renovated into antique shops, small restaurants, and accommodation.
Nyksund is only accessible by car. The road is privately maintained and not an official toll road, but a small donation is appreciated. There is a car park at the entrance where you pay at the machine. This is also one of the starting points for Dronningsruta, Northern Norway's most famous hiking trail.
The story starts in the late 18th century, when a merchant saw the potential of this remote outpost near rich fishing grounds. By 1860 Nyksund was a busy centre of maritime activity, and by 1900 it had become the second largest fishing village in Vesterålen. The economy ran on the seasonal migration of skrei, the winter cod that passes through on its way to spawning grounds in Lofoten.
Work on the breakwater between the two islands began in 1874. It took until autumn 1878 to finish because violent storms kept delaying the work. In 1880, another storm damaged it again. A major fire in 1934 destroyed much of the buildings along the inner harbour. By 1945, the village had nine fish processing plants, four shops, a bakery, a smithy, and about 180 people in some 30 households. Only 3 or 4 of those households actually fished. The rest ran the factories, shops, and services. Most fishermen only came to Nyksund for the winter season.
There was no road to Nyksund until 1960. After the war, modern boats with powerful engines made it unnecessary to live so close to the fishing grounds. The fish factories left one by one, and neighbouring Myhre took over. By 1975 everyone had moved out.
That could have been the end, but in 1985 German professor Burkhard Herrmann discovered Nyksund and started a revival project. Students and travelling artists came in summer. The lease was not renewed in 1989 and things declined again, but growing tourist numbers brought a second revival in the mid-1990s. Today many houses have been renovated into antique shops, small restaurants, and accommodation.
Nyksund is only accessible by car. The road is privately maintained and not an official toll road, but a small donation is appreciated. There is a car park at the entrance where you pay at the machine. This is also one of the starting points for Dronningsruta, Northern Norway's most famous hiking trail.