Havøysund – wind, wildlife and postwar resilience in Norway’s far north

Havøysund sits at the ragged fringes of Norway’s north, on the small island of Havøya. Reached by a bridge over the fjord, the fishing hamlet is shaped by wind, water and weather.

This is an authentic, no-frills place. Life here revolves around fishing, but nature always makes its presence felt.  

 People have lived around these waters for centuries. While traces of early human activity dot the wider Måsøy region, Havøysund’s real growth came with the rise of fishing. Its sheltered harbour and access to rich seas made it an ideal landing point – and later, a hub in the Pomor trade with Russia.   

That all ended in 1944, when retreating German forces razed the town. Residents were evacuated, and Havøysund was left in ruins. What you see today is the result of postwar rebuilding. Rows of gjenreisingshus – practical homes built in the years after the war – still define the town’s look. 

Fishing still drives daily life here. Small boats land cod, crab and halibut, and the local processing plants keep the harbour busy. You can get to grips with Havøysund’s coastal heritage at the red-painted Måsøy Museum.   

Nature thrives here too: Arctic foxes roam the hills, sea eagles sweep the nearby cliffs, and out on the island of Hjelmsøya, the towering headland of Hjelmsøystauren hosts one of Europe’s richest seabird colonies. High above town, a striking wind farm now crowns the plateau at the other end of Havøya.