Norway's Coastal Administration is leasing 80 of its historic lighthouses to the public at no cost, a decades-old policy that keeps remote maritime heritage sites active and accessible. The unique arrangement requires leaseholders to maintain the properties and offer public activities, transforming former navigational aids into cultural hubs and tourist destinations across the country's rugged coastline.
From the southern tip near the Swedish border to the northernmost reaches of Finnmark, 115 lighthouse stations dot Norway's coast. Siv Senneset of the Coastal Administration confirmed the core detail that makes the program remarkable. "It is completely free," Senneset said. "But those who lease the lighthouse station must facilitate activity, visits, and conduct outreach work. They are also obligated to keep the lighthouse in good condition if it involves simple repairs and the like."
A Program Rooted in Preservation
The leasing program began over thirty years ago, with some of the oldest agreements nearing three decades in length. Its primary purpose, according to the administration, is to ensure the lighthouses remain open to all. "The goal is that the lighthouse stations should become accessible for everyone," Senneset explained. Typically, non-profit organizations or local associations become the leaseholders, sharing the workload required to manage a remote outpost. Many have a personal connection to the site, including descendants of former lighthouse keepers.
Individual entrepreneurs can also participate by leasing through a sole proprietorship. Current lessees have developed a wide range of uses limited only by imagination. "It is everything from small cafes and hiking destinations to overnight accommodations and restaurants," Senneset said. Some locations have established helicopter connections due to their extreme isolation, while others host cultural events and concerts.
From Finnmark to Telemark: A Coastal Network
Six lighthouses are currently listed as available for new tenants, spanning the nation's diverse geography. In Finnmark, the Fruholmen and Kjølnes lighthouses offer stations in the far north. Nordland county features the Landegode lighthouse near Bodø and the Barøy lighthouse in Narvik municipality. Further south, the Ytterøyane lighthouse is located in Vestland, and the Stavseng lighthouse sits in Telemark's Kragerø municipality.
These sites represent the ongoing cycle of the program. At Barøy lighthouse, Gunnar Lie Eide is preparing to hand over the lease after running the site with his experience company since 2019. His tenure exemplifies the model: providing a destination for visitors to cook meals and stay overnight, thereby sustaining the historic structure's relevance.
The Keeper's Legacy and Modern Stewardship
The program seamlessly bridges Norway's seafaring past with its present. For generations, lighthouse keepers and their families maintained lonely vigils in these structures, which were critical for safe passage along fjords and around treacherous headlands. Today, that stewardship duty is passed to lessees who act as modern curators. They are not just renting a building, they are inheriting a piece of national infrastructure and a community landmark, with a mandate to share it.
This approach offloads routine maintenance costs and operational burdens from the state while ensuring the buildings do not fall into decay. The model recognizes that local passion and entrepreneurial spirit can often preserve heritage more dynamically than a centralized government body. The lessee's investment comes not in rent, but in sweat equity, creativity, and a commitment to public engagement.