Kolbeinsens sea warehouses

– Haugesund’s identity as a herring city

Kolbeinsen’s sea warehouses on Risøy in Haugesund grew out of one of the city’s most defining industries: the herring trade. The buildings were tied to the company K. Kolbeinsen & Co. A/S, founded in 1924 during a period of economic downturn after World War I. From modest beginnings, the business expanded into one of Haugesund’s most important actors in the salting, receiving, and export of herring. Kolbeinsen became part of the major herring industry that shaped Haugesund throughout the 20th century. When the herring began to disappear from the local waters in the 1950s, the company followed the fish north—first to Måløy, then Ålesund and Kristiansund. Eventually, they had to source herring abroad, establishing receiving stations and production facilities in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland. In 1974, they also opened a factory in Killybegs, Ireland, to secure access to raw materials.

This ability to adapt turned Kolbeinsen into an international player in herring export, and the sea warehouses on Risøy served as an important hub in this activity. The sea warehouses on Risøy were once a clear symbol of Haugesund’s herring era. They were among the first buildings you noticed when walking north from the city center, and many locals associate them with a bygone period of prosperity. After the last generation of herring exporters—Kolbein Johannes Kolbeinsen—passed away in 1986, the business gradually declined. The warehouses were left without active use and slowly deteriorated.

For years, they were described as a “beautiful wound” in the cityscape—historically important, yet in poor condition. Many residents have long hoped the buildings would be restored and brought back to life, both for the sake of cultural heritage and for the development of Risøy.

Kolbeinsen’s sea warehouses represent: Haugesund’s identity as a herring city, an era that laid the foundation for its growth. Risøy’s maritime cultural environment, where sea warehouses, quays, and receiving stations were part of everyday life. A family business that became international, reflecting how Norwegian fisheries adapted to global markets. The warehouses are therefore more than old storage buildings—they are part of Haugesund’s collective memory.

In recent years, political and local interest in restoring the warehouses has grown. The municipality has signaled willingness to support the effort, and plans are being explored that could give the buildings new life—whether as housing, commercial spaces, or cultural venues. Many hope that restoration can combine preservation of history with renewed activity on Risøy

Kolbeinsen’s sea warehouses is only 1.4 km walk from the hotel. Click on the map for a larger version and directions to the warehouses