Tromsø, Norway by Eve Andersson

Tromsø is the largest Norwegian town north of the Arctic circle, with a population of about 60,000. It boasts the world's northernmost university as well as the world's northernmost brewery. Midnight Sun Because Tromsø is so far north, summer days are very long (though, sadly, not warm). In August (when I visited) it is just light enough at midnight to read a book outdoors. Downtown and Waterfront

Comments

your pics

wow. i was doing a little research as i've randomly selected tromsø from about a field of 50 cities to visit next summer and came upon your site. incredible photos!! i could hear the clanging of metal rings against ship masts, the murmur of the people in the market and feel the chill of a norwegian summer's night. i've made my mind up completely now. thanks. marc

-- marc browne

Interesting Tromso

Tromso, Norway looks really interesting from the pictures ive seen. I wish to go there someday and see my relatives. The pictures on this site are really cool.

-- Katrina Jordan

I visited in summer of 81. Such a lovely, peaceful city- but it has a major university, major soccer team, skiing, nice restaurants etc. I want to go with a ton of books and a walking stick and live a peaceful life there- forever. Rick Burns

-- rick burns

Thanks for the memories

I traveled to Tromso in the summer of 1988. This is the first time that I've searched the internet for the city after being there with the U.S. Coast Guard. The memories that I have are fond ones and looking at your photos brought back additional images that I had forgot about. A beautiful, clean city with much to see. Thank you for the photos!

Dustin Larsen

-- Dustin Larsen

Tromso, Norway

My great grandfather was from Tromso and sailed to Prince Edward Island, Canada in the August Gale of 1873 and was shipwrecked off North Cape Reef. Would be interested in hearing from any of the descendents of William Hansen born May 20, 1848. My only records of his early life is that he decided as a youth to take a sea-faring life. He had been on many whaling expiditions and spent two winters on the frozen island of Spitzbergen. He sailed many times across the Atlantic and Pacific waters and called at many of the principal seaport towns of the world.He was shipwrecked on a Norwegian Barque bound for Liverpool. He was an expert sail maker and rigger and therefore entered the employment of a prominent shipbuilder, Senator Yeo on Prince Edward Island.This was known in the 1800's as Isle of St. Jean. Would be interested in any information on Grandfather Hansen who originially came from this beautiful country of Norway. Tks Frank Hansen

-- Frank Hansen

artic capers

i visited tromso for the pupose of competing in the midnight sun half marathon,june 18/2005.i never expected to find such an interesting and stimulating city,the sea air,snow covered mountains have made a for a lifetimes ambition to return. chris wood.wellington. new zealand.

-- christopher wood

CJ Colbert

Thank you so much for these pictures, Eve...my Great Grandfather Martin Zachariasen Christensen immigrated from Tromso when he was young man. I would like to be able to visit here as well as Oslo where my Great Grandmother immigrated from. I live in an area of Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula that mimics the Tromso area, I now know why I loved it here so instantaneously. Something in the DNA I am sure. Again Thank you very much. ~Cj

-- Caroline Colbert

hometown girl

I am proud to call Tromso my hometown. I was born there in 1951 and still have family living there. The picture you have from "Downtown" of the O.L.Aune building was the location of my great-grandfather's butcher shop...he was O.L. Aune. 2 years ago in Sept. my grandmother, Tordis (Aune) Austad, who is still living in Tromso, celebrated her 100th birthday at the restaurant that is now in that building... Wonderful pictures of a beautiful city. Thank you! Tusen Takk, Solveig Holmboe Cagwin

-- Solveig Cagwin maiden name Holmboe

Just to say i am going back to Tromso next year after ten years to visit my family .I have to say your photos have really made me realise how much i miss the place and how beautiful it really is. My family home is on Kvaloya at Hakoybotn have you any photos of this area and the mountain called The blue man that much of the farm is on . Thanks.

-- david ryeng

I Welcome you all to my hometown!

Hi! Today in our local newspaper (http://www.nordlys.no)I read an article about Eve Astrid Andersson. So i googled her and came to this page! Super! Great pictures from Tromsoe. All I can say is that I enjoy living here in Tromsoe. I was born here and now I study theology at the University of Tromsoe (http://uit.no). This summer has been great, and the autumn if full of colours, mushrooms, berries, sunlight and joy. You are hereby invited to Tromsoe, the great ice-city in the north! -and no, no polarbears in the streets. No reindeer either:) Best wishes Maren Ninni Arnesdatter Lockertsen

-- Maren Ninni Arnesdatter Lockertsen

excellent

my sister sent me this link....cuz she lives there now...thx for hosting...i hope the fair ppl of norway are treating her well

-- Erni Jarvis

Many good memories

Oh, how lovely to see all these pictures! I was an AFS student there in 1967-68 og enda kan en del norsk! Familien Holm -- Bakermester Rolf -- was my host family and are my family yet. The bake shop was at Fredrik Langes Gt. 19, right in the heart of this great city. Anyone remember it? How I loved my year, my family, my friends, my whole Norwegian experience...and how Troms and Norway are now such a part of my life history. We return from time to time but not nearly often enough. If I ever had to leave my home here, I could be content in Tromso. Put a slash in that "o". Saa...skal vi paa Skarven? Hils hjem.

-- Linda Hespenheide Shoemaker

old country is home to great great great grandfather and grandmother

i have just recently found out that my family originated from there in the early 1900's and then came to Canada. I may still have some family there and would dearly love to meet them some day. They are from the Krissan Moen family tree. I would love to visit this beautiflu area someday also.

-- Linda Johnson

Happiest years

I spent some of the happiest days of my life in Tromso. Whether it was the midnight sun or the dark winter period, continuous snow for days or weeks, slipping and falling down, I embraced them all with joy. I had the most gorgeous view from my window, overlooking the fjords, a view worth a million everyday.

-- ghaitree aubeeluck

Tromso

Hi Eve

I am looking so forward to see Tromso next year, my husband was born there and is a decendent of the Falck family. Your pictures are fantastic!I really enjoyed seeing them on the Web! Thank You Y.B

-- YVonna Both

Family reunion

Hello! I have enjoyed viewing these current pictures of Tromso. We are having our family reunion today, and thought I would do a board of where our recent ancestors hailed from. Tromso, Norway. Thanks for shaing these pictures...beautiful! My family lineage is Mathias Mathiason and Quade Swenson. I do not know alot about them yet..just beginning the journey of geneology hunting. I truly hope to visit Norway with my wonderful sisters...Mom passed away about 5 years ago, and had always wanted to go to Norway. I hope we can live that dream for her! So, your pictures will be shared at the Swenson family reunion today in Minnesota. Many of our relatives from the Lake Lillian area, which is where my grandfather settled, will be coming. Thank you!

Carol Davis, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

-- Carol Davis

I love your pictures of Tromso. My grandmother was born there. Her name was Lorentina Andrea Johnson. She married Borl Moen, and then moved to North Dakota where they had five children, Esther, Alfie, Ruth, Arling and Margaret. When Borl passed away my grandmother moved her family to Winnipeg Manitoba where she ran a boarding house. There she met and married my grandfather Trygve Angel Thompson from Bode Norway. The had five children. Trygve Jr,who was my father, Thelma, Clarence, Arthur and Lawrence. They eventually moved to British Columbia. Looking at the pictures of Norway has brought me closer to my grandparents. And I thank you ever so much, Jan Silvius

-- Janice Silvius

My great grandmother was born in Tromso March 1st,1869. The oldest of 12 or 13 children her mother died when the youngest of these children was only 2. My great grandmothers name was Jensigna(Signe)Olsen. She was married and I think her last name was then Berthalsen. She had a son and then a baby girl who died at only 3 days old. Her husband and son both drowned so she came to America through Canada in the late 1890's. Signe married and had 5 more children. She lost contact with her relatives in Tromso. I'm just wondering if she had 12 or 13 siblings there might be some one who reads this that might know of her or the family.

-- tanya lee johnson

My grandparents came to Canada in 1926 from Tromsø and eventually settled in Nelson, British Columbia where I was born. My grandmother, Ingeborg Margrete Kristiansen was born in 1897 in Blamoli. My grandfather, Robert Kristian Adamasen, was born in Beiarn. His mother, Elen Kristiane Pedersen (born 1854)was from Trolid and his father, Adam Jonsen (born 1865) was from Beiarn. I have several of the old family history books that go back to the early 1600's and I am slowly translating these books to glean additional family history. I would love to discover cousins in Norway......sincerely, Ingeborg (I was named after my grandmother)
Attachment: Ingeborg Margrete Kristiansen FOR PUBLICATION.doc

-- Ingeborg Leavell

Memories

Such memories. I spent the summers of 1973 and 19676 working on the farm of Nils Bjorklund in Kvaloysletta. Some of the best times of my life. Weekend hikes in the mountains, trips to Ringvassoy and Karlsoy. Fishing for torsk at midnight and the wonderful food.

Dick Armstrong Kirkland, Washington

-- Dick Armstrong

memories

i was stationed at bardufoss airport on a temporary duty assignment with the u.s.air force in 1987;and absolutely fell in love with norway.thank you for the pictures.

-- shawn foster

Otrolig

I'm English but am living in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul and Tromsø couldn't be more diametrically opposite, but I'm thinking of going to Tromsø this summer. Although I've never been to Norway, I did live in Karlskrona, a small sea town in the south east of Sweden for a year some time ago. Tromsø reminds me very much of south east Sweden. I loved the photos. Otrolig!I guess I just love Scandianvia.

-- Nigel Gibson

Tromso

I live in Istanbul and looking for a travel destination in Northern Norway and I almost decided about traveling to Bodo however after seeing those beautiful photos of Tromso I have changed my mind in favor of Tromso.

Tansu Giz Istanbul

-- Tansu Giz

to live in Tromso

Hey guys i'm really excited about this city and the country of norway itself. i have a girlfriend who lives there and i'm in australia so we are planning for me to live there permenatly. The pictures i have seen especially the northern lights r amazingly insane i've never seen anything like it i cant wait to see them with my own eyes! The only thing i'm a little worries about is the weather lol! i'm used to it warm n toasty n you guys keep saying even the summers r cold...HELP.... :) xxxooo

-- Layne Cushing

the best pictures i saw in my life..... my heart is beating so fast .. i'm from Egypt where pharaohs lived their for thousands of years. The pace in Egypt is moderate hot. I saw ur picture when i was printing my engineering project for the last year. These pictures let me feel decide to be able to visit this place before i die ... I hope.. I love my country and I welcome everyone who is ready to come to show (him/his) every place. For anyone from Tromso need to visit me, can contact me at this email : elshobaki84@yahoo.com ..... and thx very much for these pictures.
Image: Mansoura0005 much better.jpg

-- mohamed saad elshobaki

TROMSO

MY GRANDPARENTS, ANDERS RAGNVALD ANDERSEN AND RAGNHILD(E) INGVALD SATHER OR SAETHER, BOTH OF SAAMI PARENTAGE, WERE BOTH BORN IN TROMSO 1883 AND 1882, RESPECTIVELY. AFTER MARRYING, THE TWO OF THEM EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1902, FINALLY SETTLING IN GLENDIVE, MONTANA. THE STORY GOES THAT ANDERS CHANGED THEIR LAST NAME TO "BAKKEN" BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY ANDERSENS, WHICH MANY IMMIGRANTS DID UPON ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY LEFT THEIR DAUGHTER HANNA(H) WITH THEIR PARENTS IN TROMSO WHEN THEY EMIGRATED. RAGNHILD EVENTUALLY GAVE BIRTH TO THREE BOYS: BERNARD BAKKEN-1913, PEDER BAKKEN-1917, RICTOR BAKKEN-1919. IN THE WINTER OF 1919, RAGNHILD AND RICTOR BOTH SUCCUMBED TO THE GREAT INFLUENZA AND PASSED AWAY, LEAVING HER HUSBAND AND TWO SONS REMAINING, AND WHO EVENTUALLY MOVED TO WASHINGTON STATE. THIS IS ALL I KNOW OF MY GRANDPARENTS, AND DEFINITELY NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THEIR ANCESTORS, OTHER THAN BEING RELATED TO FAMILIES BY THE NAME OF LARSEN AND OVERLIE. THE PICTURES I HAVE SEEN OF TROMSO ARE SO FANTASTIC AND BEAUTIFUL; THEY REALLY MAKE ME SAD BECAUSE I KNOW SO LITTLE OF MY FAMILY ANCESTORS AND DEFINITELY KNOW OF NO RELATIVES LIVING IN TROMSO TO ASK QUESTIONS!

-- LANNY EVERETT RAGNVALD BAKKEN

Thank you for sharing beautiful pictures from my hometown Tromso! It brought back so many memories! Thank you again! Mette

-- Mette Cook

Grandfather from Tromso

I'm researching my grandfather, Nils Iversen who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900's from Tromso or possibly Skjervoy. I wish I knew more about him. He and and his wife both died in 1918 leaving 3 young children. Some day I hope to visit. Thanks for the terrific photos! Carol

-- Carol Iverson-Scrol

Hi Thank you for all the wonderfull pictures, I am from Cuba, but I have been living in Tromso for 11 years. Now I have decided to rent my apartment to them to want to spend some times in Tromso in beautifull surrondings away from unpersonaly hotels and city noise. I f someone is interested please dont hesitate to contact me. www.polarlightshome.no We will start in January 2009. Have a nice Christmas everybody. And keep taking pictures, they warm our heart!!
Image: tromso-in-winter.jpg

-- Michele Renne

Virtual Troms?

nice photos, feel free to visit my gallery of 360 panoramas from Troms?

-- Lep Lep

Thank you

Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Tromso. My Father is a native of Tromso. His father was Bjarne Dahl, and his mother was Hardina Dahl. I had the good fortune of visiting Tromso, twice with my family. Once in 1967 and again in 1976. I met my farmor,Hardina. I also met my Tante Dagmar Andreasson, Uncle ungnar Andreasson. Years ago my uncle used to collect the trash with a tractor for the town. Someday i would like to return to Tromso to visit my cousins, Bjarne, and Ingerlisa. Thank you Herb Arild Dahl USA. Atlanta, Ga.

-- Herbert Dahl

Genealogcial info

Hello, Very nice with so many photos from my home town, Eve. I see several people are interested in ancestors from the Tromsoe area. Research into that subject I have some experience in, during both my full governmental and my part-time private jobs for many years, and so I maybe could help somewhat, even though I now live most of the year in a warmer country. Most of my ancestors from the last cirka 150-200 years are from the north of Norway and the north of Sweden/Finland.

You may contact me on the email tommywho55@gmail.com

-- Tor Larsen

New Year's Eve 2000

I spent 2 weeks in Tromso. The pictures I viewed look nothing like I remember! (: All I remember was SNOW!! Culture shock for this American, however the people treated me very well. The New Year's fireworks over the water was wonderful! I would go back if I had an opportunity... Highly recommend a visit to anyone that hasn't experienced Tromso..

-- j. scott evans

Tromso in August

My wife & I just visited Tromso in August visiting my son who is a visiting professor at the University. The people are fantastic; very friendly. The country is beautiful; majestic. Planning on going back as soon as we can but in will be in the summer time only!

-- John Geistweidt

Mr.S. Husain

what a fantastic city I ever seen in my life.I was very much eggar to see this place many time I have made my mind up to see but unfrortunaly no one want to come with me so, I have dicided go on my own and at the end I did it. The most important thing to see is MIDNIGHTSUN I was very much interested to see this thing,how could happened that sun comes out at mid night and when I seen with my own eyes I pray to God almighty that is wounderfull,I loved to go again to see the wouderfull town and many more things.

-- Sharif Husain