The museum is named after the shelter used by Willem Barentsz on his third Arctic expedition, when they became trapped in ice off northern Russia.[2]
The museum consists of several 17th-century buildings which were once the houses of wealthy whaling commanders.[1] The buildings were constructed in 1688.[1] The museum was established in 1938, and acquired these buildings in 1950.[1] During World War II the collection had to be hidden.[1]