Holmestrand: Coastal Path, Beach and Culture

Holmestrand offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: the Coastal Path for walking or cycling, Dulpen Beach in the town centre and the Aluminum Museum, which focuses on Norway’s aluminium tradition. There is also a monument in the harbour park and a church that is one of Norway’s few surviving Y-shaped churches. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether they are outdoor activities, the beach or culture.

Explore the Coastal Path in sections or as a longer route

The Coastal Path between Holmestrand and Sande is approximately 13 kilometres long. This figure refers to the entire route connecting the two towns. In Holmestrand, you can walk the path in several sections or follow it all the way through; people of all ages can use it on foot or by bicycle for short or long trips. When planning an outing, it is therefore useful to distinguish between the length of the route connecting Holmestrand and Sande and the distance you want to cover.

One more specifically described section starts in Mulvika. From there, the Coastal Path follows a paved footpath to Hagemannsparken and continues around Hydro to the centre of Holmestrand. This gives you both the approximate total distance between the towns and a specific route from Mulvika towards the town centre. When choosing your route, you can follow this described section or plan a trip that takes in additional sections.

Beach and rest area: Dulpen and Tvillingbru

The large Dulpen Beach is in the centre of Holmestrand. It has two beach volleyball courts, a beach handball court and a playground. Public barbecue areas and toilet facilities are also available, including an accessible toilet. The facilities cater to a range of interests: sports, play and barbecuing, as well as access to toilets.

At the Tvillingbru rest area on the Coastal Path, there is a climbing installation for children, a paddlers’ hut and a fire pit. The paddlers’ hut is free to use and does not need to be booked. Dulpen and Tvillingbru differ in location and facilities: Dulpen is the large beach in the town centre, while Tvillingbru is a rest area on the Coastal Path. You can therefore plan a beach visit and a stop along the path as separate parts of your trip.

Aluminium history and cultural attractions

The Aluminum Museum is a department of Vestfold Museums and opened in 2002. It presents the properties of aluminium and the history of Holmestrand from national and global perspectives. It also focuses on Norway’s rich tradition of aluminium processing and is the only museum in Norway to present this tradition. Visitors of all ages and levels of prior knowledge are welcome. The exhibits feature modern interpretation methods, digital solutions and contemporary design. The museum thus combines a specific topic centred on the material with an insight into the history of Holmestrand.

Other cultural attractions include the Søstrene Backer Monument and Holmestrand Church. The monument stands in the park by the harbour in the town centre, in front of the Holmestrand Library. Holmestrand Church is located in Botne Parish and is one of only four surviving Y-shaped churches in Norway. The monument’s precise location in the town centre helps to identify its setting, while the church’s rarity among surviving Y-shaped churches makes it a distinctive point of cultural and historical interest.

For an overview of the wider trip: Holmestrand.