A population in flux

Local of Tjørnuvík, Streymoy

This portrait is of Hans Esbern Heinesen, a local of the small, remote village of Tjørnuvík on the main Isle of Streymoy. I met Hans just after hiking the mountain trail connecting the villages of Tjørnuvík and Saksun. As I descended into the village, he approached me and inquired if I wanted a coffee and a waffle. I very much did. Hans lived his entire life in this village of around 70 people. Now retired, he makes coffee, tea, and waffles at a small picnic table for any local or visitor who wants one.

The population of the Faroes is very much in flux. Many of the younger Faroese are moving to the larger cities of Tórshavn and Klaksvík to find work. Others go abroad to attend university in Copenhagen or London and never return. Several of the smaller villages are now inhabited mainly by older Faroese, with many of the houses standing empty. Even some of the older generation are buying residences in the more populated towns and keeping their homes in the smaller villages as summer houses
or renting them to visitors through Airbnb, which has become increasingly popular in the islands in the past few years.