Hadsel Church stands on the eastern edge of Hadseløya island, about 3 km from central Stokmarknes, and is one of the more distinctive religious buildings in northern Norway. The current structure dates to 1824 and was built in an unusual octagonal plan — a form that was briefly fashionable in Scandinavian church architecture and is now rare enough to warrant a detour.
The site has been a place of worship since at least 1381, and priestly records go back to 1321. The original cruciform church from 1639 was replaced by the current building, which seats around 500 and remains in regular use. The church is designated a Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site, and on clear days the views from the churchyard across the water to Langøya are worth the short drive from town.