Experiences  /  History  /  WWII City & Water
Occupation · Resistance · Maritime strategy

WWII TrondheimCity & Water

Some chapters of Trondheim's history can only be understood by seeing the city and harbour together. Walk through the occupied city, then take to the water to explore why this place became strategically important—and what remains today.

Guests aboard a traditional boat on Trondheim's waterways
✦ One history · Two perspectives
DurationApproximately 2.5–3 hours
FormatPrivate group tour
CapacityUp to 36 guests
ExperienceGuided walk & boat tour
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The experience

A city shaped by war—seen from land and water.

Trondheim was occupied from April 1940 until liberation in May 1945. Its harbour, railway connections and position on the coast made the city strategically important to the German occupying forces. Military plans changed neighbourhoods, shorelines and the lives of the people who lived here.

Our journey begins on foot. Through locations in the city centre, your guide tells of occupation, resistance, collaboration and daily life under wartime rule. These are not distant stories: many unfolded in buildings and streets that still form part of modern Trondheim.

We then continue by boat. From the river, canal and harbour, the city's maritime geography becomes clear. Toward Nyhavna stands Dora I, the vast concrete submarine bunker begun in 1941 and completed in 1943. Dora II was started but never finished. Their scale reveals the ambitions of the German naval project—and the human and physical cost behind it.

History handled with care

This is storytelling—not spectacle.

The tour addresses occupation, persecution, forced labour, resistance and collaboration with respect for those who experienced them. Our aim is to make the history understandable, honest and connected to the places around us.

Walk the occupied city

Connect people and events to the streets and buildings where wartime Trondheim unfolded.

See Trondheim from the water

Understand how the river, canal, port and fjord shaped the city's strategic importance.

Encounter Dora

View the monumental remains of the German submarine base at Nyhavna from the maritime side.

Private and adaptable

The story and pace can be adjusted for tour groups, educational visits and specialist interests.

Your journey through wartime Trondheim

Meet your historical guideBegin with the German invasion of Norway and why Trondheim mattered in the wider northern campaign.
Walk through the cityHear about occupation, resistance networks, collaboration and the choices faced by ordinary people.
Board the boatMeet your skipper, receive the safety briefing and continue the story from the water.
Follow the river and canalSee how Trondheim's waterways connected its historic centre, harbour and coastal approaches.
Approach Nyhavna and DoraDiscover the submarine-base project, its wartime function and the concrete structures left behind.
Return with the full pictureBring the land and water narratives together and consider how the occupation still marks the city.
Before you go

Practical details

Group options

  • Private groups from 1 to 36 guests
  • Up to 12 guests per boat
  • Several boats for larger groups
  • Educational groups welcome
  • Special interests can be requested

Clothing & accessibility

  • Warm layered clothing
  • Windproof and waterproof outerwear
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Tell us about mobility needs
  • Boat access requires a step aboard

Route & conditions

  • Walking and boating order may change
  • Exact meeting point confirmed in booking
  • Route adapts to harbour conditions
  • Open traditional boats
  • Safety decisions rest with the skipper
Questions & answers

Good to know

Is this a public or private tour?

The WWII City & Water experience is arranged as a private group tour. This lets us coordinate guides, boats, timing and the historical focus for your group.

How many guests can join?

Each traditional boat carries up to 12 guests. We can operate with up to three boats for a coordinated experience for as many as 36 guests.

Where does the tour start?

The exact meeting point depends on the day's sequence and boat logistics. It will be clearly stated in your booking confirmation.

Does the tour go inside Dora?

The standard experience interprets Dora and Nyhavna from the surrounding harbour and water. It does not include entry into the bunker unless this has been agreed separately.

What happens in poor weather?

We monitor wind and water conditions closely. The sequence or boat route may be adapted, and if safe operation is not possible we will contact the group to discuss alternatives.

Can the tour be adapted for schools or specialist groups?

Yes. Tell us about the group's age, background and interests when requesting the tour so we can shape the historical emphasis appropriately.

Streets · Harbour · Living memory

See the places.
Understand the choices.

A carefully told journey through one of Trondheim's most consequential chapters.

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