Vesterøya#Folehavna Fort

Seawater levels were about| {{convert|20|m}} higher 5,000 years ago, which means Vesterøya consisted of a large island and 25-30 minor islets. During the Viking Age, ocean water levels were about {{convert|3–4|m}} higher than today. Therefore, Vesterøya was an island separated from the mainland by shallow waters (hence the name), and then later, it became a peninsula as water levels decreased. Vesterøya was previously known as Velløy, which derives from the Old Norse {{lang|no|Vaðilløy}}. The first element comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|vaðill}} which means "shallow water" or "ford" and the word {{wikt-lang|no|øy}} which means "island".{{Cite book |last=Christensen |first=Arne Emil |title=Osebergdronningens grav: vår arkeologiske nasjonalskatt i nytt lys |last2=Ingstad |first2=Anne Stine |publisher=Schibsted |year=1992 |isbn=9788251614238 |page=29 |language=no}} Other historical names used for the peninsula include Velløy, Vælløy, Valløy, Veløyene, and Vælløynni.{{Cite book |last=Davidsen |first=Roger |title=Et Sted i Sandefjord |publisher=Sandar Historielag |year=2008 |isbn=978-82-994567-5-3 |page=65 |chapter=Vesterøya |entry-url=https://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/9e31c5837d93e44a321807936e792082?lang=en#67 |lang=nb}}

File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-113-0003-15,_Nordeuropa,_Küstenbatterie,_Bunker.jpg contains ruins from a German fortress erected in 1941.{{Cite web |title=Activities in Vestfold |url=https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/see-and-do/activities/?TLp=166348&Vandring |website=VisitVestfold.com}}]]

Folehavna Fort is located at the southernmost point of the peninsula. It was constructed by the Germans in 1941 during the German occupation of Norway. The surrounding area came under German control on 8 May 1941, and the fortifications were raised the same month. By the end of the war, the fort was equipped with four Belgian cannons and several anti-aircraft cannons. The fort was in use by German occupation forces until January 1943. It was equipped with tunnels, bunkers, trenches, fencing, barracks, floodlights, battlements, and minefields.{{Cite book |last=Gjerseth |first=Simen |title=Nye Sandefjord |publisher=Liv forlag |year=2016 |isbn=9788283301137 |page=71}}

The Norwegian Armed Forces maintained control of the area until 1995 when it became a public recreation area. Bunkers, trenches, barracks, and tunnels can still be seen at Folehavna. At most about 200 German troops were stationed at Folehavna Fort. It is the southernmost point of Sandefjord which is located on the mainland (not including islands).{{Cite book |last=Jøranlid |first=Marianne |title=40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn |publisher=Vett Viten |year=1996 |isbn=9788241202841 |page=54}}{{Cite book |last=Davidsen |first=Roger |title=Et Sted i Sandefjord |publisher=Sandar Historielag |year=2008 |isbn=9788299456753 |pages=20–21 |chapter=Folehavna |entry-url=https://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/9e31c5837d93e44a321807936e792082?lang=en#23 |lang=nb}}

File:Heve_senke_flakstilling_med_befalsbolig_i_bakgrunnen.jpg

German forces constructed three large tunnels at Folehavna, including a {{convert|120|m|adj=on}} long tunnel. Four {{convert|15|cm|adj=on}} cannons were also installed in concrete gun pits on the sloping rocks.{{Cite book |last=Holskjær |first=Lars |title=Kamper uten tall |publisher=Forlagshuset i Vestfold |year=2017 |isbn=9788293407294 |pages=121-122 |language=no}}{{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Erlend |title=På Tur i Vestfold del 1 |publisher=E-forlag |year=2010 |isbn=9788293057130 |page=56}} The four K-370 b cannons had a target range of {{convert|15000|m|mi}}. The fort's first commander was Hauptmann Klenner and the fort's purpose was to protect the coastal entry to Sandefjord.{{Cite book |last=Sørlie |first=Rune |title=Vestfold under krig og okkupasjon 1940-45: krigsårene skildret i tekst og bilder |publisher=Sparebanken Vestfold |year=1984 |isbn=8299121108 |pages=83-85 |language=no}}

The fort was originally known as "Vesterøen" but was given the name Folehavna in 1943. The area was occupied by German forces in 1941 when Folehavna was owned by shipowner Anton Fredrik Klaveness. Folehavna came under the control of the Norwegian Armed Forces in May 1945, and in July 1950, an area of {{convert|0.2|km2|acre}} was deemed an open-space area open for visitors. The Norwegian Armed Forces maintained control of the area until 1993. Although German forces at the fort were never in direct battles, they utilized Folehavna Fort to shoot down a British airplane in 1944. Today, Folehavna is used for recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing. The parking lot is located about {{convert|1.5|km}} from the fort.{{Cite book |last=Schandy |first=Tom |title=Naturperler i Vestfold |last2=Helgesen |first2=Tom |publisher=Forlaget Tom & Tom v/Schandy |year=2012 |isbn=9788292916148 |pages=173-175 |language=no}}

File:Åsnes_badestrand_-_panoramio.jpg

Veserøya is a {{convert|10|km|adj=on}} long peninsula that's located immediately south of the center of the city of Sandefjrod. Its highest hills, Kamfjordåsene, lie on the northern part of the peninsula and has an elevation of around {{convert|100|m}} above sea level. Another hill, Vardås, is a popular hiking destination. The landscape is characterized by steep hills, smooth rock slopes, farm fields, minor bays, and a number of beaches and islets, and an extensive coastline. The bedrock that Vesterøya consists of, Larvikite, was created roughly 270 million years ago of plutonic rocks by magma.{{Cite book |last=Trømborg |first=Dagfinn |title=Vesterøya: geologi og landformer |publisher=Vestfold University College. Færder Forlag |year=1998 |isbn=8279110097 |pages=5-6 |language=no}}

Vesterøya is home to numerous preserved areas, including Holtan Plant Preserve, the only place in Vestfold where the species Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) occurs.{{Cite web |title=Holtan plantefredningsområde |url=https://www.fylkesmannen.no/Vestfold/Miljo-og-klima/Verneomrader/Vestfolds-verneomrader/Holtan-plantefredningsomrade/ |publisher=Fylkesmannen i Vestfold og Telemark}}

File:Langeby_Camping,_Sandefjord._-_no-nb_digifoto_20160511_00220_NB_NKF_P_02_E_025.jpg in 1966, National Library of Norway.]]

Some beaches located on the shores of Vesterøya:{{Cite web |title=Badestrender i Sandefjord |url=http://www.sandefjordby.no/badestrender-i-sandefjord/ |access-date=2018-05-19 |website=SandefjordBy}}{{Cite web |title=Bådeplasser i Sandefjord |url=http://www.oslofjorden.com/badesteder/kart_badeplasser_sandefjord_kommune.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418230319/http://www.oslofjorden.com/badesteder/kart_badeplasser_sandefjord_kommune.html |archive-date=2018-04-18}}{{Cite web |title=Sandefjord - Badeplasser |url=https://www.sandefjord.kommune.no/Kultur-og-fritid/Idrett-og-friluftsliv/Badeplasser/ |access-date=2018-05-19 |website=Sandefjord.kommune.no |language=no}}

• Asnes
• Tangen
• Folehavna
• Sjøbakken
• Langeby
• Albertstranda
• Vøra
• Fruvika
• Grubesand
• Langestrand
• Ormestadvika

A rest area ("Thomas Numme rasteplass") at Langeby Beach is named after TV personality Thomas Numme, who grew up on Vesterøya.

File:Sandefjord Langeby.JPG|Langeby

File:Sandefjord Voera.JPG|Vøra

File:Sandefjord Tangen north.JPG|Tangen, north side

File:Sandefjord Tangen south.JPG|Tangen, south side

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Category:Sandefjord

Category:Beaches of Norway

Category:Peninsulas of Vestfold