M/S Midnatsol is the largest and newest ship in the Hurtigruten fleet sailing the traditional route along the Norwegian coast from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. The ship was built in 2003 and baptised by Rut Brandt - wife of late German chancellor Willy Brandt. The ship is dominated by yellow and golden colours - the colours of summer, where the sister ship M/S Trollfjord is dominated by clear blue colours - the colours of winter.

The lounge on Midnatsol is named after Knut Hamsun - the Hamsun-lounge. It is decorated with beautiful pictures by the Danish/Norwegian artist Kenneth Blom, with motives from Hamsun's works.

In order to visualize the author Knut Hamsun even more to the 10.000 passengers, travelling with Midnatsol every year, hotel manager Steinar Olsen decided to display information as well as personal effects from Hamsun's hand. A thorough biography in 4 languages is displayed in the lounge together with selected quotations that interplay with the paintings.

At display are also original photos as well as letters and cards written by Knut Hamsun. New are also two portraits of Knut Hamsun, made by his son Tore Hamsun.

After having sensed some presence of Knut Hamsun in the lounge, you have to go on deck and maybe right now you will be sailing in Knut Hamsun's own beautiful Nordland and you will see the same views, that were so familiar and dear to him.