International meetings through the Arctic Europe Tourism Cluster
Published 17 June 2026
On June 3rd and 4th, Museum Nord was able to present its venues and experiences to tour operators from a number of markets.
Neptun Herring Oil Factory is a technical-industrial cultural heritage located on the small island of Svinøya on the south side of Hadseløya in Vesterålen. The factory is an example of the industrial fishing industry from the latter part of the 1800s and into the 1900s.
Neptun Herring Oil Factory was established in 1910 by industrial pioneer in Melbu, Christian Frederiksen, and was in operation with various owners until 1987. In the early 1990s, the factory was put into use as a museum. Through Neptune’s history, you can follow the Norwegian fishery history through almost an entire century. The plant has a fascinating history with both fire, workers’ struggle, and German occupation.
Today, it is reuse that characterizes the operation of the disused industrial premises. Here you will find, among other things, a blues club, and a spectacular concert hall in one of the old raw material tanks. In 2019, the facility was officially protected by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage.