Fairhaven (Svalbard)

In 1619 the Dutch replaced the tents and temporary tryworks on Amsterdam Island with permanent structures of wood and brick, in what would become known as Smeerenburg, or "Blubbertown."

In 1636, another station, called the "Cookery of Harlingen", was established by the Dutch in Houcker Bay (Virgohamna) on the north side of Danes Island.

In 1888/1889 Arnold Pike wintered in a hut he built on almost the exact site of the former station.

In 1896 Herr Andrée established himself here in an attempt to reach the North Pole by balloon, but was forced to return to Sweden.

Parties from Andrée's ship, the Virgo, surveyed Fairhaven and the surrounding area.

Although Mauritius Bay appears not to have been marked until Doncker's local map (1655), it was written of frequently and early on in Dutch official documents.

Martin Conway believes that the correct historical name is Middel gat.

On the island's west coast, in Robbe Bay (Kobbefjorden), they established a permanent station in 1631, which they occupied until 1658.

Robbe Bay is first marked on Dutch maps from Middelhoven's (1634) to that of Giles and Rep (c. 1710).

South of Fuglesongen, Klovningen, and Ytre Norskøya modern charts wrongly mark Fairhaven.