Molde

Molde lies on the northern shore of Romsdalsfjord, looking across the water towards the mountains of Romsdal. A landing place grew here around 1600 on land belonging to the farms of Molde and Reknes. Timber and herring drew merchants to the harbour, including Dutch traders who carried Norwegian products across the North Sea, as well as merchants from England, Scotland and Portugal.

Molde was recorded as a trading place under Trondheim in 1614, but lost its trading and customs rights in 1660. Its struggle for independent status continued into the following century. In 1742 it received a royal charter as a town with its own customs house, establishing it as a separate commercial centre for the surrounding fjord country and its many scattered settlements.