History – The ones before us.

Way beyond the Arctic Circle, in the howling weather and polar darkness, it goes without saying that through the ages Lofoten has been no place for the fainthearted. 

Here, Vikings settled at Borg on Vestvågøy, and fishermen and traders braved great distances long before tourism ever became a concept at all. Although the landscape is beautiful, more pragmatic considerations likely made Lofoten stand out as an attractive place to live. You cannot talk about Lofoten without talking about the sea.

The Gulf Stream shape the climate of Lofoten into something humanly habitable, with cold summers and relatively mild winters. Combine this with the spawn migration of the Atlantic cod called Skrei to Vestfjorden, and you have what for over hundreds of years have created the very basis of life here. 

This predictable natural resource has filled both the pantries and later the wallets of the Lofoten people. “He in boat, she on land” summarizes several hundred years of history, from the Viking Age to today’s society. Especially around Vestvågøy, the landscape has been suitable for agriculture as an important part of the subsistence economy. This was managed by the women.

Further out in Lofoten we find the characteristic Rorbu cabins. As early as the year 1120, King Øystein built these characteristic fisherman’s cabins which secured important income for the kingdom. By making arrangements for visiting fishermen, one also ensured that the income could increase even more. In the centuries that followed, there were disputes and constantly changing regulations for the fisheries. In the 19th century, the “Lofoten Act” was introduced, with strict rules for line and net fishing for each fishing village. Later in the century, it was replaced by “free seas, free fisheries”, which brought other types of unrest with the deliberate destruction of nets and lines.

The Lofoten climate has offered ideal conditions for Tørrfisk, the world famous Stockfish. 

This was one of the very first food products of the animal kingdom to become subject of international trade. The Hanseatic Leagues influence on the quality divisions was the start of the sorting system of today, now exported all over the world.

The Lofoten fishery is still a vital part of life and culture in this island kingdom. At the same time, tourists are increasingly attracted to stunning, untouched nature, summer as well as winter. The Lofoten people are known for their open and outgoing nature. Many believe Lofoten’s history is best represented through the people themselves, who in tough times live under the motto: “Vi står an av.” – meaning “We’ll ride it out.”

Source: Veiviseren til Lofotens historie, utdrag fra Gro Røede og Ottar Schiøtz.