English

Hús frítímans (lit. house of free time) is the heart of leisure services in Skagafjörður. Leisure facilities are available for all the residents of the region without any age limits.

Hús frítímans is the centre of recreational activities for all community residents, regardless of age, and this is a new concept for Iceland. It was opened in March 2009. Previously, the activities for youngsters from the primary school were held in the school buildings and for the senior citizens elsewhere, as in most places in Iceland. New space was needed especially for elder adolescents in the age of the high school – 16 years and older. Hús frítímans unites all those groups and offers them the activities in its building from 10am until 10pm (winter period).

The idea of founding the leisure centre was developed in 2004. The concept was to create a place similar to the gym where the program is organized for the different groups according to their interests.

The residents of all ages have facilities for recreational activities in Hús frítímans. In the same place senior citizens can play cards while knitting club works, choir practices and young people are online or playing billiard with their grandfathers.

The all leisure activities are planned considering family needs. Our goal is a configuration of classes for the children under 11 to be free after 17.00 and can spend this time together with their families.

In addition to activities for senior citizens, youth and elementary school students, the centre is open to any socio-cultural initiative of the population of the district. In the schedule there are a lot of meetings, concerts, open choir practices, lectures, seminars, trainings etc. (the focus is particularly on culture and arts). Those activities are possible to hold by courtesy of Hús frítímans which offers 6 different size rooms, from which the biggest can accommodate up to 100 people. There is also a practice room containing musical instruments and another room for the hand work and painting (sinks, brushes, colors to paint). Moreover, the leisure centre disposes a fully equipped kitchen (oven, fridge, coffee maker, plates, cutlery etc.).

Taking part in the activities in Hús frítímans is easy not only for the inhabitants of Sauðárkrókur but as well for people from Hofsós, Hólar, Varmahlið and Fljót. The leisure bus (Frístundastrætó) is available to facilitate all inhabitants of Skagafjörður, wherever they live in the district.

Hús frítímans is also the main working place to organize other projects of the leisure department of the municipality as Útideild (patrol prevention unit), Vinnuskóli (work school) and Sumar TÍM (workshop school) for the summer.

Examples of the activities held in Hús frítímans:

v  for children – games, workshops, contests etc.

v  for youth – drama, music and dance workshops, music rehearsals (available room with musical instruments) etc.

v  for adults – yoga, knitting club, meetings for the foreigners etc.

v  for seniors – card games, gymnastics, theatre and painting workshops etc.

We hope you will find also something for yourself!

We look forward to suggestions of new activities too!

WELCOME!