Sandefjord

Image:Sandefjord from Mokollen.jpg The two peninsulas called Østerøya and Vesterøya have a total coastline of 146 km, and form the Sandefjordsfjord and Mefjord. The coastline offers a wide variety of sandy beaches, skerries and islets (116 in total), bays and sloping rocks.

During summer, Norwegians from all parts of the country come to Sandefjord to live the good life by the sea.

Of Sandefjord's total area, 37.7 km² is agricultural and 36.2 km² is forest.

Neighbouring towns are Tønsberg and Larvik.

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History

One of the most important remains from the Viking age was found at the grave site Gokstadhaugen in Sandefjord. The Gokstad ship was found in 1880, and is now in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. A replica of Gokstad ship, called Gaia currently has Sandefjord as home port.

The previous municipality of Sandar was joined with Sandefjord in 1968.

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Health resort

Sandefjord was formerly a famous health resort, with various kinds of baths for health improvement. Amongst these were salt water sea baths, mud and sulfur baths. Visitors included royalty, a prime minister and some of Norway’s foremost cultural personalities. Around 50,000 people, mostly Norwegians, visited the bath from 1837 to 1939. Today the bath's building has been restored and now hosts cultural events and various activities.

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Whaling and ships

Image:Sandefjord Museumsbrygga 2.jpg From 1850, a number of ships from Sandefjord were whaling and sealing in the Arctic Ocean and along the coast of Finnmark. The first whaling expedition from Sandefjord to the Antarctic Ocean was sent in 1905. Towards the end of the 1920's, Sandefjord had a fleet of 15 factory ships and more than 90 whalers. In 1954, more than 2,800 men from the district were hired as crew on the whalers, but from the mid 1950's whaling was gradually reduced. The number of southbound expeditions rapidly decreased during the 1960's, and the 1967/68 season became the last for Sandefjord. The shipping industry was gradually readjusted from whaling to other ship types during this period. The local Framnæs shipyard and Jotun (Company) had major roles in this business.

Today, the memories from this important period of the city's history are kept alive through the whaling museum (Hvalfangstmuseet). This museum is the only museum in Europe specializing in whales and the history of whaling. The history of the whalers can also be explored at the Museum's Wharf with a visit aboard the whale-catcher Southern Actor.

Sandefjord also has shipping traditions from tall sail ships and steam ships. The full rigged sail ship Christian Radich and three-masted barquentine Endurance were built in the local Framnæs shipyard.

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Historical population

1845: 749 inhabitants
1951: 6,717
1960: 6,984
1970: 31,752 (Sandefjord and Sandar merged)
1980: 34,758
1990: 35,888
2000: 39,317

(source for 1951-2000: SSB)

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Cityscape

Image:Sandefjord Bjerggt 2.jpg Sandefjord has a good selection of restaurants and cafés. What is possibly Norway’s best gourmet restaurant is located here in a modern building near the harbour. Also located at the harbour, is the fishmonger well known for the excellent quality of its goods and delicacies. Sandefjord has a charming city centre, consisting of a mixture of old and modern buildings and a wide selection of shops.

The whaling monument is located at the end of the city’s main street, Jernbanealléen, in the harbour area.

Nearby is a restaurant called Kokeriet, one of the relatively few places where whale meat is regularly served.

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Industry

Image:Sandefjord Park Hotel.JPG Businesses in Sandefjord known by most Norwegians:

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Communications

Sandefjord Airport is located in the municipality. The ferries Bohus and Viking connect the town to Strömstad in Sweden. Sandefjord railway station is part of Vestfoldbanen. European route E18 traverses the municipality.

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