The Customs Houses: From Trade Hub to Urban Playground

Looking inland, you now see the old Customs House area, where for centuries, Bergen welcomed goods, travelers, and sailors from around the world. This was the city's official customs station, where goods were registered and taxed before entering the local market. The first customs building was established here in the 1500s, but the current structures date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The customs area was especially important during the age of sailing ships, when Bergen was one of Norway’s busiest ports. Norwegian exports like fish and timber were inspected here before being shipped abroad, while imports like coffee, spices, and textiles were unloaded onto the quay. Today, the area has been transformed into the "Aktiv Tollbodkai" – a 5,000 m² activity plaza and public meeting space for all ages. You’ll find climbing frames, swings, sports areas, and accessible exercise equipment. There are seating areas, a public grill, and even raised garden beds with herbs and vegetables. Everything is designed for inclusion, so children, adults, and seniors of all abilities can be active together. The Tollbodene has shifted from Bergen’s bustling trade center to a lively urban space, where history meets modern city life by the sea.