Welcome to Sandefjord!
Sandefjord is a small town in Vestfold in Norway. It has a notable history. Sandefjord is a city and the most populous municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838. The municipality of Sandar was merged into Sandefjord on 1 January 1969. On 1 January 2017, the rural municipalities of Andebu and Stokke were merged into Sandefjord as part of nationwide municipal reform. This merger was the first one to take place during the reform. The city is known for its rich Viking history and the prosperous whaling industry, which made Sandefjord the richest city in Norway. Today, it has built up the third-largest merchant fleet in Norway. It is home to Europe's only museum dedicated to whaling, and is home to Gokstad Mound where the 9th century Gokstad Ship was discovered.
Sandefjord has numerous nicknames, including the Viking, Whaling "capital" of Norway or as the undisputed summer city of Norway. The city is also known as the "whaling capital of the world." It has also been dubbed the "Bathing City" (Badebyen), due to its many beaches and former resort spas. It is still considered a resort town, due to high numbers of visitors during summer months. Sandefjord has become a transportation hub, home of Torp International Airport, one of Norway's largest airports. Daily ferry connections to Sweden are provided by Fjord Line and Color Line from the city harbor. European Route E18, one of Norway's most important roads, traverses the municipality.
Sandefjord is a stronghold for the Conservative Party, the Conservative coalition received over 70 percent of votes cast in 2011. The current mayor is Bjørn Ole Gleditsch from the Conservative Party, who has been mayor since 2004.