News

The final pieces are falling into place for The Whale in Andenes

Following the board meeting of The Whale AS on April 15, 2025, both locals and visitors to Vesterålen and the municipality of Andøy can now finally look forward to the opening of The Whale on June 3, 2027. The last major and crucial part of the attraction's overall financing is now secured in the form of loans from a bank and Innovation Norway. Over the past few weeks, the private owners have worked intensively to meet the requirements set by the bank and Innovation Norway as conditions for the loans, and have ultimately found a solution that satisfies these demands.

“There are still a few minor formalities to be completed before we can make a final commitment to the contractor, but I want to emphasize that there is no significant risk of these not being confirmed,” says Chairman of the Board of The Whale AS, Benn Eidissen.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We want to express our gratitude for all the support we have received locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally – from politicians, the business community, support organizations, and others who have contributed to making The Whale a reality. We are especially touched by the strong local engagement and enthusiasm shown by people of all ages. Without your support, we would not have reached where we are today. Exciting times lie ahead, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you, aiming for the opening of The Whale in 2027. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oceans of Hope exhibition in Bodø

What do children in the southern Azores dream about? What are the hopes of kids in the northern Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelago? And what visions do they have for the ocean? You’ll find the answers at the opening of the Oceans of Hope - Children’s Hopes for the Ocean exhibition, presented by The Whale and Andøy Municipality in collaboration with Bodø 2024.

Benn Eidissen praises Bodø 2024

“We at The Whale and Andøy Municipality would like to thank you for the collaboration with Bodø 2024 throughout the year,” said Benn Eidissen, Chair of The Whale, during the opening of the pop-up exhibition Oceans of Hope – Children’s Hopes for the Ocean in downtown Bodø on Thursday afternoon.

Andøy fund boost secures The Whale

The government has decided to allocate the final NOK 150 million to Andøy Municipality and the Andøy Fund, ensuring the remaining public financing needed for The Whale and other essential transformation initiatives in Andøy.

The Whale construction team meets in Andenes

In September, HENT was chosen as the contractor for The Whale’s construction, and the project is now underway. This week, representatives from The Whale, HENT, Norconsult, Dorte Mandrup Architects, and experience designers from Ralph Appelbaum Associates gathered on Wednesday and Thursday to initiate collaboration. This interactive phase brings all stakeholders together to closely coordinate the project’s development.

The contractor is chosen

The Whale project is one step closer to realization. After a tendering process with multiple bidders, the board of The Whale AS has selected the contractor responsible for the construction of the attraction.

We celebrated The Whale’s 10th anniversary with an unforgettable evening!

Over 160 people gathered to celebrate 10 years since the idea of The Whale was born. The event turned out to be an amazing experience filled with inspiration, culture, and visions for the future.

International design team visits Andøy

On September 9, The Whale will welcome the winners of the competition for content design – the team from Ralph Appelbaum Associates in Berlin and TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE. This visit provides the design team with a unique opportunity to get to know Andøy and its people.

The world’s largest exhibition design firm to create the content for The Whale

Ralph Appelbaum Associates Berlin (RAA) has secured the contract to design the content for The Whale in Andenes after a competitive selection process involving several international exhibition designers. 

To the USA for professional inspiration from industry leaders

The board and management of The Whale AS will embark on a study trip aimed at learning from success stories, building networks, and gaining insights into the latest trends in the experience industry.

“Our goal with this study trip is clear: We want to learn from the best in the industry to strengthen The Whale’s position as a leading attraction,” says Benn Eidissen, Chairman of The Whale AS.