Longyearbyen

Visitors to Longyearbyen will be amazed by the vibrant cultural offerings, the forces of nature and the town’s historical monuments. If you visit the polar town, you will be more than 2,000 km from Oslo, 3,000 km from Paris and 5,000 km from New York. The North Pole, on the other hand, will only be 1,300 km away.

Vinter utsikt over Svalbard Kirke med Hiortfjellet i bakgrunn

The local community

The population of Longyearbyen, the cosmopolitan capital of Svalbard, is around 2,400 and roughly 53 nationalities are represented. There has always been an international focus here, as reflected on the map. Names of topographical features or other distinctive natural features don’t appear. Instead, the heroes of different nations prevail – and in different languages. The place names refer to international names such as the headland Amundsenodden, mountain Barkowfjellet, ridge MacDonaldryggen, cape Kapp Schoultz and bay Newtonvika.

Longyearbyen is different. It defies nature that people can live so far north, where the conditions are extreme and the nature is vulnerable. We are surrounded by towering mountains and unspoilt nature created by the unruly forces of nature, right on our doorstep. The contrasts are characterized by changing temperatures, seasons featuring the endless daylight of the Midnight Sun and darkness of the Polar Night, as well as the industrial architecture that encounters the raw and harsh nature.

A vibrant culture scene

Regardless of whether you are seeking the vibrant cultural offerings, the tranquillity of the majestic and endless world of ice or planning to visit one of the restaurants offering a taste of the Arctic, Svalbard’s administrative centre offers something for everyone. The cultural calendar is packed with annual festivals, exhibitions and events, meaning guests will always find something to do. A visit to Longyearbyen also offers galleries, museums and a wide range of restaurants focusing on local produce and Arctic specialties.

The “Svalbard bug” is a well-known expression for many of Longyearbyen’s residents, an explanation that many feel a strong sense of belonging to this place. The people, unity and nature are major reasons why Longyearbyen is a place they can proudly call “home”. According to Statistics Norway, the average time people settle in Longyearbyen is around seven years.

From discovery to trapping history

In 1596, the Dutchman Willem Barentsz travelled north with his crew aiming to navigate through the Northeast Passage to East Asia. However, his expedition they ended up on Bjørnøya (Bear Island) and later Spitsbergen. Consequently, he is credited with discovering Svalbard. After departing the archipelago, his ship became trapped in the ice and they were forced to overwintering in the north, before continuing his journey towards the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya.

The discovery led to the waters around Svalbard quickly capturing the interest of several nations concerning whaling. The Russians, Dutch, English and Norwegians all competed for the resources. Whaling was the main source of income until the 18th century when land-based trapping of foxes and polar bears began. Explorers and trappers have left their mark on Svalbard’s history and played an important role in research.

The Svalbard Treaty

Svalbard means “the land with the cold shores” in Old Norse and, from its discovery in 1596 until 1920, Svalbard had the status of no-man’s land. Initially, several nations wanted control of the archipelago owing to the fishing rights. Polar expeditions, including the one by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, focused people’s attention on the High North. After tough negotiations following the First World War, it became virtually a popular demand that Svalbard became Norwegian. The Svalbard Treaty was agreed and signed in Paris during the Versailles negotiations on 9 February 1920. The treaty came into force on 14 August 1925 when it was finally ratified by Sweden, France, Denmark, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan and Norway. The agreement gave Norway sovereignty over Svalbard, i.e. Norwegian laws and regulations apply to the archipelago.

Coal mining

Low average temperatures, permafrost and winter darkness, mean Svalbard is not a favourable place for growing fruit and vegetables. Moreover, there is not a single tree here. The conditions challenged the establishment of profitable economic activity and a community in Svalbard.

The coal mining era and the start of an industrial revolution take us back to the 20th century. Arctic skipper Søren Zakariassen was responsible for the first coal extractions when he shipped loads of coal from Bohemanneset to Tromsø in 1899. The operation did not last long and was discontinued relatively soon after. The American businessman John Munro Longyear tried again a few years later. He founded The Arctic Coal Company in 1906 and established Mine 1. This signalled the start of the future-oriented coal mining industry and year-round settlement in what was then called Longyear City.

A decade later, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kullkompani took over the company and the town was renamed Longyearbyen. Since then, the company has developed the mining operations and a local business community based on coal, along with research and tourism. Although coal remains one of the world’s main sources of energy, Mine 7 is the only mine in Longyearbyen that is still in operation.

Did you know that…?

  • The Svalbard global seed vault, where plant seeds are securely stored in a common international gene bank, is situated in Longyearbyen.
  • On 8 March, the first rays of sunshine arrive in Longyearbyen after 4 months of darkness.
  • There is no maternity ward in Longyearbyen, so pregnant women must travel to the mainland at least 2 weeks before giving birth.
  • The local department store Svalbardbutikken is the only supermarket in Longyearbyen.
  • Since 1950, it has been a tradition here to remove your shoes in the hallway before entering a building. This dates to the mining days to prevent miners bringing coal dust inside. Consequently, we recommend packing slippers when you travel to Svalbard.
  • Owing to the risk of encountering polar bears, anyone venturing outside the town area must be armed for their own safety.
  • As Svalbard’s ground consists of permafrost, all the buildings in Longyearbyen are built on pillars.
  • The most photographed tourist images in Longyearbyen are the iconic colourful houses and the famous polar bear signs.