The weather was inhabited from the 1600s to 1923. A post office was established in Bremstein in 1914. The letter house was later converted into a post office and was open every winter during the fishing seasons between 1922 and 1945. For more than 40 years after the last residents moved from their homeland (Bremstein), the weather was used as a base for active fishing. While there was drift net fishing for salmon, several local fishermen stayed in the area during the summer. There is still fishing for saithe and cod around Bremstein, and the weather is also used as a resting port.

After a few decades of standstill at the fish reception and in the arches, all the buildings at Bremstein have been restored by Vega Skjærgårdspark. During the breeding season in recent years, there has been a bird keeper who, together with good helpers, has built up a new population of eider ducks in Bremstein. In 2020, there were 41 nesting eiders, compared with one pair when the restoration work began.

The fishing village story

The Vega fishermen have been fishing in the waters around Bremstein for many generations. The boat crews lived in the wheelhouses on Sørholmen and Nordholmen. The fishermen themselves hung the fish on wheels before the large jetty with the fish reception was built in 1917. Cod liver oil was also steamed in the crane steamer.

Both the approach and harbor conditions in the weather were difficult. In 1908, on the recommendation of the government, the Storting decided to build a breakwater in Bremstein. The breakwater is built of stone blocks. During the construction period, a railway line was laid and a steam locomotive was brought out to the weather to transport the boulders.

When the 330-meter-long pier was completed in 1916, work began on the Tennsund pier, which was completed in 1921. Fishing continued to flourish for more than 40 years after it was vacated in 1923. There is still fishing for saithe, cod and monkfish, and the port is used as a resting port. Around 200 fishing grounds in the waters around Bremstein have been registered and documented through the Med project under the direction of Inger Pedersen Toppen.

Below you can see pictures of the pier construction and pictures from Bremstein today. If you want to see more pictures of the construction of the breakwater in Bremstein you can visit DigitalMuseum's website.

Settlement

Bremstein has been settled since the 1600s. The permanent residents lived on Heimlandet. The children had a long school trip to Vega in an open boat. There were 14 days at school and 14 days at home in Bremstein. When the families moved from Bremstein, they took their houses, barns and boathouses with them or demolished them. The prayer house was moved to Vega.

Bremstein lighthouse (Steinan) about four nautical miles southwest of Bremstein was built in 1925 with accommodation for the lighthouse keeper, assistant and reserve assistant. The lighthouse and dwelling are still standing and are today protected. The Norwegian Coastal Administration in collaboration with a local group, Nordland County Council, the Vegaøyan World Heritage Foundation and Vega Municipality are working to restore the lighthouse.

You can read more about the lighthouse's history and see more photos at The Norwegian Coastal Administration's website.

Vegetation and birdlife

Bremstein is exposed to sea spray and the vegetation is very simple with few species. As in the other rams at the far end of the archipelago, there are also occurrences of rare aquatic and marsh plants that are spread by birds.

In addition to eider ducks, several species of gull and teist nest in the area. Eider nesting has picked up again in recent years and there is an increasing breeding population in Bremstein.

Ferdsel

Show consideration for plant and animal life when moving in the landscape. Follow marked paths and hiking trails. Remember that the use of open fire is prohibited except on the shore. Please bring your own rubbish!

Want to know more?

Following this link will take you to a page with further recommended reading.

Source

"Vegaøyan World Heritage. Cultural history travel book." by Inga E. Næss and Rita Johansen.