A surge arrester and a method for manufacturing the surge arrester are disclosed. The surge arrester includes a preassembled active part extending in a longitudinal direction, and a separately produced flexible housing defining a bore in the longitudinal direction and having an opening at an end surface of the flexible housing. The flexible housing is arranged surrounding the active part via the bore and in contact with the active part. The contact causes a deformation of the flexible housing in a circumferential direction, and the deformation generates a pressure applied on the active part along a radial direction.