To the Norwegian Fjords!:Cruises to Norway and the Travel Experiences of Dutch Cruise Passengers in the Interwar Period

This article aims to provide a new perspective on the history of Dutch cruise shipping focusing on the passengers on board instead of the technical improvements of the ships. Maritime historians have been less concerned with the maritime aspects of tourism. Especially early cruise shipping at the start of the twentieth century has had little attention. In the 1920s and 1930s tourism in general increased. In this period Dutch shipping companies set up less expensive cruise tours to attract new tourists: the lower middle class and the youth. Norway became a popular destination. This article uses travelogues, scrapbooks, travel guides and leaflets issued by shipping companies as main sources. By comparing these sources, it can be concluded that the ship played a major role in the perception of the tourist. The touristic perception on board and ashore was also influenced by media like film and photography