Siglufjörður, Iceland: A Travel Guide to the Hidden Fjord Town of North Iceland

The History of Siglufjörður

The history of Siglufjörður is closely tied to the dramatic rise and fall of Iceland’s herring industry. If you are interested in reading about the history of the town, prepare yourself for the amount of times "Herring" will be mentioned.

The Herring Boom

In the early 1900s, huge shoals of herring began appearing in the waters off northern Iceland. This triggered what became known as the “Herring Adventure”, turning Siglufjörður into the centre of the Icelandic fishing industry almost overnight.

Fishing vessels from Iceland, Norway, and other parts of Scandinavia flocked to the fjord. At its peak during the 1930s and 1940s, Siglufjörður became one of the busiest fishing ports in the North Atlantic. The town’s population rapidly expanded as workers arrived to take part in the booming industry.

One of the most iconic parts of this period was the work of the “herring girls”, groups of women who salted and packed fish along the harbour. Their work was essential to the industry, and they became an important part of the town’s culture and identity.

The “Herring Capital of the World”

By the mid-20th century, Siglufjörður had earned the nickname “The Herring Capital of the Atlantic.” The industry was incredibly profitable and for many years accounted for a large portion of Iceland’s export income.

Processing plants, warehouses, and docks lined the harbour, and the town became surprisingly lively for such a remote location. Restaurants, shops, and cultural venues opened to serve the growing population and seasonal workers.

Collapse of the Industry

The boom did not last forever. By the late 1960s, overfishing and changing ocean conditions caused the herring stocks to collapse. In 1969, the herring disappeared almost entirely from Icelandic waters.

This sudden change had a huge impact on Siglufjörður. Many processing plants closed, jobs disappeared, and the town’s population began to decline as people moved elsewhere in search of work.

Siglufjörður Today

Today, Siglufjörður is a much quieter town, but its history is still very visible. The harbour, old industrial buildings, and fishing culture remain an important part of the town’s character.

One of the best places to learn about this history is the Herring Era Museum, which preserves the story of the herring boom and the people who worked in the industry. The museum recreates parts of the old harbour and provides a fascinating look into a period that shaped both the town and the wider Icelandic economy.

Although the fishing boom is long gone, Siglufjörður has reinvented itself as a small cultural and tourism destination. Visitors now come for the town’s history, its scenic fjord setting, and the unique atmosphere created by a place that once played such a major role in Iceland’s past.