The tiny Arctic island where travellers have found refuge since 1897

Key Points:

• Støtt, a tiny Norwegian archipelago north of the Arctic Circle, historically served as a refuge for fishermen battling violent seas and was once a busy trading post on Norway's northern fishing route.
• Eva Ann Andersen, whose family has owned the island’s hotel since 1897, returned to Støtt in 2011 to revive the island by transforming it into a peaceful tourism destination that offers refuge from modern life's stress.
• Andersen has expanded the hotel’s offerings to include activities like kayaking, Arctic sauna sessions, and boat excursions, while also converting old fish factory buildings into luxury suites to attract international visitors and create year-round local jobs.
• With a declining population now around 25 year-round residents, Andersen aims to rebuild the island’s society by drawing tourists, artists, and writers, hoping to stimulate the local economy and encourage people to stay or return.
• Visitors to Støtt can enjoy natural beauty, historical sites like World War Two bunkers, and outdoor activities such as cycling, fishing, and snowshoeing, making it a unique off-the-beaten-track destination.