Sandvík

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title: "Sandvík" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-faroe-islands", "populated-coastal-places-in-the-faroe-islands", "suðuroy"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-the-faroe-islands" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandvík" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameSandvík
native_name
settlement_typeVillage
total_type
image_skylineSandvík.5.jpg
imagesize250px
image_captionSandvík with Lítla Dímun in the background
dot_x
pushpin_mapDenmark Faroe Islands
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_map_captionLocation within the Faroe Islands
subdivision_typeState
subdivision_nameKingdom of Denmark
subdivision_type1Constituent country
subdivision_name1Faroe Islands
subdivision_type2Municipality
subdivision_name2Hvalba Municipality
parts_style
parts
p2
leader_title1
established_title
unit_pref
area_total_km2
area_land_km2
elevation_footnotestags--
population_as_ofSeptember 2025
population_total66
population_density_km2
coor_type
coordinates
blank_nameClimate
blank_infoCfc
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_codeFO 860
::

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|postal_code = FO 860 |area_code = |website = |footnotes =

Sandvík (pronounced , "Sandy Bay"; ) is the northernmost village of the island of Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands. It is situated on the northern side of a shallow fjord. The village was previously known as Hvalvík (Bay of Whales). It changed its name to Sandvík in 1913 as there was too much confusion regarding mail delivery, because there is another village named Hvalvík on Streymoy. The village had originally been known as Sandvík during the Viking Age.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Sandvík_a_Village_in_Suðuroy,_Faroe_Islands.JPG" caption="Sandvík and [[Stóra Dímun]] as seen from just outside the tunnel from [[Hvalba]]."] ::

Sandvík is the place where Viking chief Sigmundur Brestisson was murdered after his long swim from Skúvoy in an attempt to flee from Tróndur í Gøtu. When Sigmundur came ashore exhausted to what he thought would be safety, the local farmer Torgrímur Illi fell upon him with his sons, and decapitated him for the golden bracelet he wore on his arm.

In 1349 the village became deserted, the inhabitants having been wiped out by the Black Death. It would not be until 1816 that the village was once more inhabited.

The church in Sandvík was built Á Bø in Froðba in 1840. Later, in 1856, it was moved to Tvøroyri, because more people lived there than in Froðba. And finally in 1908 it was moved to Sandvík, after Tvøroyri got a new and larger church.

On 13 February 1915 a tragic accident occurred in Sandvík during a whale hunt in the bay. Two of the boats capsized and 14 of 15 young men on board lost their lives, they came from Sandvík and the neighbouring village, Hvalba. Later a memorial was raised in Sandvík in memory of the 14 men.

Overview

The Road Tunnel from 1969

Sandvík is connected to the road system of the island through a 1500-metre tunnel, which was bored through the mountains in 1969. The tunnel has only one lane, and passing places where cars can go aside in order to let other cars pass by. The tunnel is located up in the mountain on the southern arm, on the opposite side of the village, which is located on the northern arm of the bay.

Húsið uttan Ánna - A Historical Home and Museum

There is a small museum called "Húsið uttan Ánna" (The House by the River) in the centre of the village. It is located in a traditional Faroese house dating from 1866. The house has a turf roof.

Ásmundarstakkur - A Sea Stack West of Sandvík

A narrow road leads from Sandvík to the west coast where many sea birds nest in the cliffs. Ásmundarstakkur is a 97-metre high detached sea stack which is home to puffins and other sea birds.

Writers from Sandvík

At least two writers came from Sandvík:

  • Martin Joensen (1902-1966) was a teacher and a writer. He wrote about fishermen and the Faroese society in small villages. He wrote two novels: Fiskimenn, 1946 (Fishermen) and Tað lýsir á landi, 1952. He also wrote short stories.
  • Steinbjørn B. Jacobsen (1937-2012) was a teacher and a writer (poet, novel writer, short story writer, play-writer, memoir-writer).

Gallery

Image:Sandvík.2.jpg|Sandvík seen from the mountain north of the village. Image:Sandvík.6.jpg|Boat houses in the harbour of Sandvík. Image:Sandvík.4.jpg|Memorial in memory of Sigmundur Brestisson, made by sculptor Hans Pauli Olsen in 2006. Image:Sigmundur Brestisson Memorial in Sandvík by Hans Pauli Olsen.jpg|Memorial in memory of Sigmundur Brestisson, made by sculptor Hans Pauli Olsen in 2006. Image:Martin Joensen Memorial Stone Sandvík Faroe Islands.JPG|Memorial in memory of the writer Martin Joensen who was born in Sandvík in 1902. Image:Memorial Skadagrindin in Sandvik 1915.jpg|Memorial in memory of a whaling accident in 1915. Image:Sandvíkar kirkja..2.jpg|The church of Sandvík. Image:Sandvík.11.jpg|Húsið uttan Ánna, a historical home, museum. Image:Sandvík.9.jpg|Inside Húsið uttan Ánna, museum. Image:Ásmundurstakkur.3.jpg|Ásmundarstakkur, a sea stack west of Sandvík.

References

References

  1. [http://www.folkakirkjan.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=6446 Folkakirkjan.fo]
  2. [http://www.fiskimannafelag.fo/media/8896/335.pdf Fiskimannafelag.fo - Skaðagrindin í Sandvík í 1915, page 9 (''in Faroese'')] {{webarchive. link. (2014-08-09)
  3. link. (2008-12-29)
  4. link. (2013-01-21)

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