Vadsø (Norwegian: [vɑdˈsø]), Čáhcesuolu (Northern Sami: [ˈt͡ʃaːht͡seˌsuo̯luː]), and Vesisaari (Kven) is a town in Vadsø Municipality, Finnmark County, Norway. It serves as the administrative centre for both the municipality and the county, and is the second-largest town in East Finnmark.
Located on the southern shore of the Varanger Peninsula along the Varanger Fjord, part of the town extends onto Vadsøya Island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The town covers 3.43 km² and has a population (2023) of 4,654, resulting in a population density of 1,357/km².
Vadsø Church is located in the town and serves as the seat of the Varanger prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. The midnight sun is visible from 17 May to 28 July, and the polar night occurs from 26 November to 17 January.
History
The original settlement in the 16th century was a fishing village on Vadsøya Island, later moving to the mainland. Vadsø was granted town status in 1833. During the 19th century, many settlers from Finland and northern Sweden migrated due to famine, and Finnish became the majority language for a time. Finnish is still spoken in some homes.
Vadsø was the base of Muitalægje, the first Sámi-language newspaper, published from 1873 to 1875.
During World War II, the town was bombed by the Soviet Union targeting Nazi German forces. Despite the destruction across Finnmark, Vadsø retains several 19th-century wooden houses, including those built by both Norwegian and Finnish residents.
On Vadsøya Island stands the airship mast used by Umberto Nobile and Roald Amundsen for their 1926 North Pole expedition with the airship Norge, and again in 1928 with Italia.
Municipal History
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1833 – Vadsø granted kjøpstad (town) status
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1838 – Vadsø Municipality formed
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1839–1964 – Various divisions and mergers involving Nesseby, Sør-Varanger, and Nord-Varanger
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1964 – Town of Vadsø and Nord-Varanger merged into present-day Vadsø Municipality
Etymology
The name derives from Vadsøya Island, the original townsite. From Old Norse Vatnsøy — vatn (water) + øy (island) — meaning “island with drinking water.”
Transportation
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European Route E75 runs through Vadsø
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Hurtigruten coastal express calls at the pier on Vadsøya Island
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Vadsø Airport lies east of town in Kiby
