“If you have the drive and the enthusiasm, you can achieve an incredible amount in Vadsø”

Vadsø, a gem in northern Norway set beautifully on the Varangerfjord, has a rich history and cultural heritage. To get a broad picture of what Vadsø means to the people who live here, we have interviewed a range of people of different ages who have a connection to this charming town. Each of them has their own experiences and views, and together they give us a glimpse of Vadsø as seen by different generations. We had a chat with André Kvernhaug to hear a little about what he thinks of the town.

About André

André Kvernhaug (46) is festival director of Varangerfestivalen. In his spare time he enjoys music and playing the guitar, as well as tennis. He moved here in 2006 and now lives here with his three children and his partner. André chose to settle in Vadsø because it is a good place for children to grow up and has a very good cultural scene. Among other things, he gets to take part in and experience some of what he loves most in life: big cultural experiences that become good memories.

Everyday life in Vadsø

André works a lot on Varangerfestivalen and on the year-round club programme at Kooperativet. But Vadsø is compact, so he also gets to play a bit of tennis, go along to the children’s activities and join in much of what goes on socially among his friends. He really likes that we are a bit like Cardamom Town, the cosy little town from the Norwegian children’s classic. Vadsø is at its best when we look after each other and cherish the good things about being a small place.

The best thing about Vadsø

We asked André what he thinks is the best thing about Vadsø, and this is what he told us:

“If you have the drive and the enthusiasm, you can achieve an incredible amount in Vadsø. It’s easy to make yourself seen, and there are lots of people here in Vadsø who want to create a good life for themselves and for the community. Vadsø is a town for producers, not consumers. And I love a proper winter, with snow.”

He then went on:

“Ha-ha. I won’t pass judgement on Vadsø, but I really like it when we as a town pitch in together on a dugnad (communal voluntary work) and look after each other. The town can drift slowly along, until it suddenly surprises you and comes to life with a new festival, a new sports club, a microbrewery, a new leisure activity or something else nobody saw coming. We think we know everything that goes on in the town, but then suddenly someone moves back or moves in and starts something new.”

Tips and advice about Vadsø

André has a clear answer for a friend who is thinking of moving to Vadsø:

“Check out the opportunities in volunteering. Vadsø is absolutely brilliant at that! At our best, we manage to create big experiences for a great many people, even though we are a small place.”