The House of Dahl

Built in 1926, perched on the dramatic shores of Norway’s Lofotenarchipelago, The House of Dahl is a luxurious and historic retreat nestled within the famed Nusfjord Arctic Resort. A private-hire residence of unparalleled exclusivity, this five-bedroom holiday sanctuary embodies the soul of Nusfjord – one of Norway’s oldest and most meticulously preserved fishing villages. To stay here is to step into a rich maritime heritage, where the elemental forces of nature meet the refined elegance of contemporary Norwegian design.

This is a place where time slows, the rhythm of the sea dictates the mood, and an air of quiet sophistication permeates every timber-clad corner. The House of Dahl was once the home of Nusfjord’s penultimate owner, symbolising the village’s fishing empire. Now beautifully restored, it serves as the most exclusive accommodation within the resort, offering an unparalleled opportunity to experience the authenticity of Nusfjord from a grand yet intimate perspective – discretion with access to the luxury trappings of the main resort.

A Private Retreat Within A Historic Village

What sets The House of Dahl apart is its unique positioning within the nominated UNESCO traditional architectural preservation pilot site of Nusfjord. Renting the entire house means securing your own private slice of history in a village where the past whispers meet the present's refined sensibilities. Nusfjordis a rare destination, a living museum where the balance between preservation and modernity is effortlessly struck – and The House of Dahl sits at its heart.

This white-painted clapboard house stands apart in detached, elevated distinction, unlike the rorbuer fishermen’s cabins painted in falu red, which are scattered along the harbourfront. Sleeping up to ten guests across five en-suite bedrooms, it is a retreat that balances social spaces with personal sanctuary, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the intimacy of the landscape while still enjoying the privacy of a grand residence.

Norwegian Florals, Antiques & Design Elegance

The House of Dahl, decked in white-painted clapboard, has been reimagined to honour its past while embracing the refined simplicity that Scandinavian design does best. From the moment you step inside, there’s an undeniable sense of warmth – a balance of the raw and the refined, where original timbers meet plush contemporary furnishings, potted palm plants echo the era, antiques are dotted about as a home and a nod to the original woman of the house, Rakel, deck the interiors in large scale wall coverings depicting wildflowers and fauna softeningthe merchant’s clubhouse wooden panelling.  

Geared for a group of good friends, the family gathering, or a founders creative basecamp retreat, The House of Dahl lends itself well. The spacious living room is the soul of the house, with deep-set sofas that invite long conversations, a curated library stacked with Nordic literature, and a wood-burning stove that radiates warmth through the open-plan layout. Adjacent to this, the dining room is framed by windows that flood the space with ever-changing Arctic light, offering an elegant setting for long, leisurely meals prepared in the modern kitchen or delivered by Nusfjord’s culinary team at hand.

Each of the five bedrooms is an oasis of calm, featuring queen-sized beds draped in luxury linens, soft lighting, and en-suite bathrooms fitted with rainfall showers. The aesthetic is intentionally restrained – a symphony of neutral tones, natural materials, and the kind of quiet luxury that whispers rather than shouts.

For those looking to fully unwind, the house grants exclusive access to the Arctic Wellness spa, where wood-fired hot tubs and saunas sit perched above the fjord, offering a front-row seat to the dance of the northern lights. House guests can also take advantage of the resort’s onsite choice of restaurants, bars, bakery, pizza parlour, and a rather splendid nostalgic café and boutique if they need hand-knitted socks.

A Legacy Built On Heritage – Hans Grön Dahl

The House of Dahl is a living tribute to the man who helped shape Nusfjord into the thriving fishing hub it once was. Hans Grön Dahl was a prominent and, indeed, wealthy figure in the village’s history, playing a crucial role in its expansion and preservation. In 1834, he married Rakel Ursin Pedersen, a widow who owned property in Nusfjord. Through this union, Hans became deeply involved in the village’s affairs, working to modernise and develop its infrastructure.

In 1847, King Oscar I of Norway granted Hans sole ownership of Nusfjord, a practice not uncommon in royal decrees of the time. Under the stewardship of Hans and Rakel, Nusfjord flourished, evolving into a bustling centre of industry. Key additions included a post office, bakery, grocery store, liquor factory, cod liver oil refinery, hydroelectric power station, and even a prison. By the early 20th century, Nusfjord had grown to house around 1,500 residents and 100 traditional rorbuer cabins, becoming a focal point of the Lofoten cod-fishing season, drawing up to 500 boats into its harbour every year.

Built in 1926, Dahlgården was the home of Hans Dahl, the penultimate owner of Nusfjord, and it is this very house that has been meticulously restored and transformed into the House of Dahl at Nusfjord Arctic Resort. As Nusfjord’s most exclusive accommodation, it preserves the village’s past while offering an unparalleled modern experience.

An Immersive Lofoten Experience

A stay at The House of Dahl is more than just luxury accommodation – it is an invitation to experience the rugged beauty and storied past of Lofoten from a perspective few will ever know. With the entire house at your disposal, guests can move through the village at their own pace – stepping out to explore the surrounding peaks, venturing onto the water for cod fishing, or simply soaking up the shifting Arctic light from the comfort of their private retreat.

This is the kind of place that lingers in your memory long after departure – a house that holds the echoes of its past, yet welcomes each guest as if they were always meant to be here.