Campground, service building and history
On this page, we introduce to you
• the terrain of the campingsite,
• the history of Longyearbyen Camping and
• the service building.
Just scroll further down to these topics on this page.
The Campground Terrain
- A lazy rest in the sunshine on the tundra of the campsite on a windstill summer day.
- Breakfast outside.
The area of the campground comprises ca. 30,000 m², mostly flat tundra on a coastal plain, which was lifted above sea-level by post-iceage land rise. Even today, old beach lines and stones rounded in the breaker zone of former beaches are still visible on and above the campingsite, and you may stumble occasionally even over rotten whale bones, stuck in the ground for thousands of years (please do not change anything). An old beach wall all across the campground is the first area which falls dry during snowmelt, suitable for early guests for setting up their tents.
Across the coastal road, towards today´s beach, there is a lagoon, populated by various bird species during summer. Originally the result of digging out gravel for the airport construction, the artificial origin of the lagoon is hardly visible anymore. Since end of summer 2008, the local ornithological club is engaged in measures of improving the attractivity of the lagoon for birds even further, and has put up up information boards for visitors. Campingsite guests enjoy the privilege of having the lagoon within sight at any time, with accordingly good opportunities for bird watching and photography.
On the far side of the lagoon is the actual pebble beach to the fjord, with more birds (and sometimes even seals or belugas). It is here, where the campsite beachlife takes place (see also 
Longyearbyen Camping Arctic Naked-bathing Certificate) and paddlers can pull up their boats.
Both the tundra vegetation and also the animals are highly vulnerable under the conditions of the Arctic and depend highly on making maximal use of the short arctic summer. No other place of staying in Longyearbyen offers such close experiences of nature - but this includes also a responsibility for minimizing impacts.
See also:Neighbour Nature,Campsite Regulations
Campsite History
- Left: Grazing reindeers between the tents, and behind them at the lagoon: the former outdoor toilet with inspiring scenic view onto the fjord as the first and very basic facility of the campsite for the first 10 years. Above: Only in 1985, the first part of today´s service building was set up, visible on the picture above. It was sponsored by the Norwegian state to improve conditions on the campsite. Already in 1988, it was enlarged to its present size, including toilets now accessible also from outside all day round during the season. The former outdoor toilet at the lagoon was then removed.
Hotellneset, the plain on which the campsite is located, is named after the first hotel on Spitsbergen, which stood from 1896 onwards for some years a bit further to the East. The campingsite itself was installed, when following the opening of the airport in 1975, camping tourism became a fact in Spitsbergen, initially with wild camping right in Longyearbyen, leading to unpleasant remains and abuse of the local facilities from drying dirty socks on the radiators in the miners canteen to washing smelly bodies and clothes in accessible toilets of the settlement.
Banning wild camping in a large area in and around Longyearbyen, and at the same time installing a designated campingsite was the consequence by the Norwegian state, which even set up a nice service building with all necessary facilities for the main season (summer) in 1985, extended already in 1989. For its initial 22 years, the opening season of the service building was limited to the frost-free period, as the non-heated water pipe froze when temperatures dropped a few centigrades below Zero. Also by its construction, the building is not suitable for permanent all-year use also through the coldest parts of winter.
- Old (left) pipes under dismantling, new pipes in the dam (right in the picture).
- After the purchase of the campsite, a lot of renovation work was to be done - here "boss" Michelle renewing paint.
For the first years, the campsite was still owned by the state and run during the season by DNT (Norwegian Tourist Club), then sold for one symbolic norske krone to a local company. This company soon found out that running a campingside in Spitsbergen is not really profitable, so hardly any longterm maintenance investments were done and since 1998, the seasonal management of the campsite was taken over by Spitsbergen Tours on the basis of a long-term leasing contract, which, however, still did not solve the longterm maintenance problem.
In 2007, the former freshwater and sewage pipes had to be renewed for about € 50,000 as a consequence of the enlargement of the airport. The owner of the campsite at that time was not willing to invest this sum and offered the campsite for sale to Andreas Umbreit, who was running it with his company Spitsbergen Tours already since 1998. A seasonal guide of Spitsbergen Tours at that time, Michelle van Dijk, was enthusiastic about this possibility, and so Longyearbyen Camping is owned since 2007 jointly by Michelle and Andreas. In addition to the campsite, both owners continue their other economic activities in Spitsbergen (Michelle: freelance guiding on ships and for hiking tours. Andreas: Spitsbergen Tours, terra polaris).
Apart from the purchase and especially the expensive new pipes, further renovations had to be done urgently, as there had been hardly any longterm maintenance for more than 10 years. Visitors who have used the campsite before and come now again, will notice some improvements.
In 2008, the former high antenna masts on the campsite, still visible on some of the older pictures, were taken down, as this antenna of the airport was out of use for several years, already.
In 2009, the main focus was on improving lots of small details with piping, painting, small repairs, better access to storage, exchange of a main boiler.
For 2010, the installation of new kitchen facilities and possibly new shower cabins is under preparation, and we hope to be able to provide highspeed internet access on the campsite.
The costs of the new pipes were not only a burden: being insulated and heatable against freezing, the new pipes finally allow us to extend our season in the summer, now starting earlier in June and lasting longer into September. And in addition, we can offer now also an extra spring season (April to early May) and extra openings also in other parts of the year on request.
The Service Building
- Service building - from the veranda, toilets are permanently accessible during season.
- The pleasant cooking and eating room with ...
- ... its panorama windows to fjord and lagoon.
Official opening hours service building:
During summer season, the toilets accessible from outside via the balcony are permanently open. The other facilities inside the building are accessible at least during the official opening hours (8-10 in the morning, 20-22 in the evening). Due to the small number of guests, we cannot have staff at the campsite permanently. It is up to the campsite attendant to keep the building open also longer than these official opening hours, even all around the clock, on a basis of trust. This requires, however, that all guests stick to the rules. If even just a minority caus evitable discomfort for others and additional unnecessary work for the attendant, he can keep the service building closed outside the mentioned official opening hours.
Cooking and Eating Room:
The pleasant cooking and eating room with its panorama windows is equipped with simple kitchen facilities and tables and benches for about 40 persons. Some pots, etc. are available for use, but it is advisable to bring along your own plate, cup and cutlery - especially knives and cups seem to "evaporate" from our kitchen.
Some electricity plugs (220V) allow the loading of batteries or supply of electronic devices (but not to be excessively occupied by just a few).
A huge wall map of the archipelago inspires planning and the exchange of tour experiences between guests.
A major attraction is the great view both over large parts of Icefjord onto the mountains and glaciers on its far side, and onto the bird lagoon just on the other side of the road.
Bathrooms for men and women
Each bathroom is equipped with a long washing trough with several tabs for warm and cold water, a toilet and two shower cabins. The use of bathrooms is included in the overnight price, only warm water for the showers has to be paid extra via the purchase of tokens for a slot machine which steers the warm water supply (5 minutes per token). If there are very many guests showering, it can happen that some waiting is needed until our boilers have prepared more warm water, again.
Please bring along your own hygienic items: cloths, soap, shampoo, hairdryer, etc.
There is no public washing machine on the campsite, but clothes can be washed in Longyearbyen. Wet items can be hung up on the washing lines on the balcony - no drying on the radiators in the eating room !
- Inside the service building: Access to the sanitary facilities for men and women, with ...
- ... a long washing basin with several tabs (warm/cold). Cloths, soap, etc. have to be brought along by the guests.
- 2 showers for men and 2 for women, warm shower water steered by slot machines (tokens sold by attendant).
- Furthermore, several toilets are accessible during season directly from outside via the balcony, not requiring to take off the shoes as inside the building.
