Smeerenburg Whaling Station

Smeerenburg, Svalbard, Norway

Smeerenburg was a prominent Dutch-Danish whaling settlement from 1619 to 1657 on Amsterdam Island in northwest Svalbard. The whalers hunted bowhead whales that were prevalent in the Fram Strait. Blubber was processed on site in large copper kettles to extract oil. At its peak, Smeerenburg had around 16–17 buildings with specialized facilities. Visiting remnants today, you can see the cemented blubber ovens and the historical significance of this outpost. Explore the remains of the whaling station, feel the history, and appreciate the challenging yet resourceful life of the whalers.

Location

City: Amsterdamøya

Region: Svalbard

Country: Norway

Coordinates: 79.73167°N, 10.99500°E