Hauganes is a small, tiny village even on an Icelandic scale. It sits peacefully on the western coast of Eyjafjordur bay in North Iceland.
The population is about 90 people and it’s been so for the past 50 years.
First evidence of settlement in the Hauganes area is from the time Iceland was settled in around 1000AD and locations in the area are repeatedly mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. The first settlers in North Iceland came to land in the area north of Hauganes and Litli-Árskógssandur and gradually moved deeper into the fjord. Most of the landmarks and farms are named after the very first settlers who settled in the area. The sagas also claim that Mt. Kotlufjall, the large mountain gazing over Hauganes, holds the grave of Norwegian King Hrærekur, allegedly the only king buried in Iceland ever.
The Hauganes village itself appears to have been formed in the late 19th century, first wooden house built in 1882, but centuries before that the area, the creek which forms a shelter from the ocean currents, was a harbour for the farmers in the area.
Fishing and fisheries has been dominating throughout the history of Hauganes and in fact, the political and social decisions in regards to fisheries in Iceland in general, reflect in the uprising and downfall of the village culture and population. The regional development is the same as in many places in the world; people tend to move from the rural areas to bigger cities that hold greater opportunities.
That is mainly the reason Hauganes has not been able to grow or change for the past 30 years and maybe that is exactly its charm.
Everything is sincere. Nothing is made out of plastic. We love our little village just like it is.