Smeerenburg
The remains of a Dutch whaling station of the 1610s on an island in Svalbard's far northwest.
Updated 3 September 2026
Smeerenburg, blubber town, was a Dutch whaling station established on Amsterdamøya in the 1610s where whales were flensed and their blubber boiled down in great copper vats, and for a couple of decades it was one of the busiest places in the Arctic before the whales near shore were killed out and the operation moved offshore. What survives is the fused remains of the blubber ovens, foundations and graves.
What's there
- The blubber ovens - the fused brick and oil residue of the boiling works.
- The foundations - the outlines of the station buildings on the gravel.
- The graves - the burials of whalers on the island.
- The walrus - the animals that now haul out on the same beach.
When to go
June to September is the open-water season. Sea ice can close the northwest into July. Landings depend on swell and on the walrus present.
Practical notes
Everything on the site is protected and nothing may be touched or moved; the ovens are fragile. Walrus on the beach frequently prevent landing. Access is by expedition ship only.
Nearby
Northwest Spitsbergen National Park surrounds it, and Virgohamna is nearby.
What to pack for Smeerenburg
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Shelter suited to the place - Tent, tarp or hut booking - match it to the terrain and rules. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
