Norway-North Cape September 1-17, 2025 September 4

Today we make a short stop in Hammerfest, just in time to observe the arriving Hurtigruten ship Midnadsol. After that, we travel to the fishing village of Forsøl, passing many reindeer. It's incredible how close the animals come to the town.

Forsøl is a fishing village in the municipality of Hammerfest in the province of Finnmark, Norway. It is located on the northeast coast of the island Kvaløya, about 8 kilometers northeast of the town of Hammerfest. The Kvalfjord is a small fjord south of the village. The small fishing village has about 200 inhabitants.

Waste Disposal in Norwegian in Forsøl on Kvaløya

On the way, a sign at a garden gate requests to always close it so that reindeer do not end up in the garden. In close proximity, there is a small fish processing plant with a similarly small private landfill. This seems typical for the area; what is no longer needed just remains where it is.

This also applies to the sunken boat in the harbor, just below the waterline. Only a railing of the cabin is still sticking out a bit. As long as it doesn't bother anyone, nothing will change about it. If it were to be pulled out of the water, it would just remain on land until... you know.

Life in Forsøl on Kvaløya

A small bridge leads over the stream that carries meltwater from the surroundings into the sea. A sign reminds me as a driver that six-year-old children already go to school here. There indeed seem to be children here; in every garden, their bikes, toys, and play equipment are parked. The winter nights here in Forsøl on Kvaløya are long… And Norwegians love children. About 215 people live in this place.

Somewhat sheltered from the wind due to its location, the houses in Forsøl on Kvaløya are lined up along the slopes, and beside them, decommissioned vehicles await their natural decay, which should occur significantly faster for the beloved wooden boats.

At the end of the harbor, a larger fish processing plant awaits; workers from the neighboring Hammerfest come here, who haven't found their place in energy production. A cutter arrives with reindeer-like temperament to unload its fresh cargo, and a refrigerated truck takes away the sellable goods in breaded stick form.

Above the fish processing plant stand the huge wooden frames where the stockfish has dried until just a few days ago. Only a few animals still hang here in the polar air under a net, a bird seems to have fallen victim to its greed for this prey.