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Historic neighborhood · Nuuk, Sermersooq
Colonial Harbour
The old town core, on the fjord shore, with colorful colonial-era houses, Hans Egede’s house, the museum and the Mother of the Sea sculpture, which appears at low tide.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Colonial Harbour
The colonial harbor (Kolonihavnen) is Nuuk’s oldest area, in a cove facing the fjord. It was here that the missionary Hans Egede founded the colony of Godthåb in 1728, the Danish name of the town until 1979.
Hans Egede’s wooden house is considered the country’s oldest building and today is used by the government for receptions. Around it are wooden houses painted red, yellow and blue, old warehouses and the National Museum. On the hill beside the cove stands a statue of the missionary looking out over the water.
On the rocky shore, the Mother of the Sea sculpture (Sassuma Arnaa), a figure from Inuit stories who governs the marine animals, is covered by water at high tide and emerges at low tide.
A wooden boardwalk follows the coast from the colonial harbor and is a favorite walk for residents, with benches facing the fjord and Sermitsiaq.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour on foot, not including time inside the museum.
Best time
At low tide, to see the Mother of the Sea sculpture out of the water, and in the late summer afternoon, when light falls on the houses and the fjord.
How to get there
From the center, the walk to the cove takes just over ten minutes; city buses stop nearby.
Tip
Check the tide table before you go so you arrive at low tide and can see the Mother of the Sea sculpture.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Colonial Harbour
Where is Hans Egede’s house?
In Nuuk’s colonial harbor, next to the National Museum and near the cathedral. It is considered Greenland’s oldest building.
When does the Mother of the Sea sculpture in Nuuk appear?
At low tide. At high tide it is covered by the fjord water.
Can you visit Nuuk’s colonial harbor on foot?
Yes. The houses, the museum, the cathedral and the coastal boardwalk are close together and can be explored on foot.