October 10, 2025, 8:49 am | Read time: 3 minutes

Kokelv urgently seeks residents

Just a two-hour drive from the North Cape lies Kokelv. The village is part of the Hammerfest municipality and is idyllically located right on the Revsbotn Fjord. But as beautiful and picturesque as the area around Kokelv is, the village faces a significant problem. Over the past eight years, Kokelv has lost 41 percent of its population. Currently, only about 80 people live there. The school has just four students, and the kindergarten is empty.

A local initiative now aims to prevent the population from declining further and is trying to attract new residents with attractive offers. According to the Hammerfest municipality website, interested parties can live rent-free in a municipal apartment for the first year. In the second and third years, half the rent is due, and only after four years is the regular rent of 9,000 kroner (about 780 euros) per month required.

The project primarily targets parents with children under 18 or those expecting a child. Additionally, interested parties must not already live in Hammerfest or own a home there. However, being from Norway is not a requirement. A municipal employee confirmed to TRAVELBOOK that non-Norwegians can also apply. The municipal director hopes, in an interview with the Norwegian broadcaster “NRK,” that some might want to put down roots there. Applications can be submitted until November 16 via an online form.

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Support for new families

Kokelv not only offers free housing but also other incentives to ease the move. Kindergarten and school places are guaranteed. Additionally, the municipality provides information on job openings or starting a business. To help families feel welcome and integrate quickly, each family is paired with a local mentor who already lives in Kokelv and is rooted there. After three years in a municipal apartment, there is also the option to purchase it.

Pros and cons of seclusion

A similar project has already been successfully implemented in other Norwegian communities such as Kvitsøy or Beiarn. Not only did the population increase, but the new neighbors also made a positive contribution to society, according to “NRK.” However, interested parties should be aware that moving to such a remote area can have both advantages and disadvantages.

The seclusion of Kokelv is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On one hand, you live in the midst of nature in a picturesque setting. At night, you can watch the Northern Lights, and in winter, there’s thick snow. However, there is only a small supermarket in the area. It’s a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Hammerfest, and the nearest airport is almost two hours away.