Hegreneset: From Grain Silos to Industrial History

Have you noticed the large grain silos towering over the sea here at Hegreneset? They are a well-known Bergen landmark and have long played a key role in supplying the city with food. But before the silos dominated the shoreline, this was home to another vital industry – Hæggernes Valsemølle, or the Hæggernes Rolling Mill. The mill was established in the late 1800s to meet the growing demand for flour in Bergen. Thanks to its strategic seaside location, grain could be transported in by boat, ground into flour, and distributed to bakeries and households across the city. It was a time of rapid industrial growth, and the mill played an important role in the city's development. For decades, Hæggernes Mill kept Bergen’s bread baskets full. But as larger, modern mills took over, operations here ceased, and the area changed. Today, the silos remain as a monument to Bergen’s industrial past. As you glide by in the boat, imagine this shoreline once filled with the sounds of grinding stones, steam engines, and the bustle of busy workers.