The residential area just south of the Old Town is known as Vaterland.

Many restrictions inside the walls lead in the 17th and 18th century to the growth of a small suburb just outside, south of the main gate.

Sailors, fishermen and craftsmen settled here and built themselves plain wooden houses.

This very special part of Fredrikstad is even today characterized  by the old and low wooden houses, the oldest preserved being dated back as far as the 1720s.

Most of the building are from the 19th century, but it was not until 1980 that restoring plans were made.

The name Vaterland comes from the Dutch word vater (water), and indicates the property outside the moats of Gamlebyen.

Today Vaterland is a popular residential area, and restoring these old buliding seem to be an on-going project for many of those who live there.