Everything about Stockholm Sweden totally explained
is the largest city and
capital of
Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish
government, the
parliament, and the official residence of the Swedish
monarch.
Stockholm has been the political and economic centre of Sweden since the 13th century. Today
Stockholm Municipality is the largest of the
municipalities of Sweden, with a population of 795,163 (December 2007), and
Stockholm urban area with a population of 1,252,020 (2005) is Sweden's largest continuously built-up area. The
metropolitan area of Stockholm has a population of 1,949,516 (December 2007). Its strategic location on several islands on the east coast of Sweden at the mouth of
Lake Mälaren, by the
Stockholm archipelago, has been historically important.
History
The location appears in
Norse sagas as
Agnafit, and especially in connection with the legendary king
Agne. The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing, however, dates from 1252, when the mines in
Bergslagen made it an important site in the iron trade. The first part of the name (
stock) means log or it may be connected to an old german word (
Stock) which means fortification, while the second part of the name (
holm) means islet, and is thought to refer to the islet
Helgeandsholmen in central Stockholm. The city is said to have been founded by
Birger Jarl in order to protect Sweden from a sea invasion by foreign navies, and to stop the pillage of towns such as
Sigtuna on Lake Mälaren.
The strategic and economic importance of the city made Stockholm an important factor in relations between the
Danish Kings of the
Kalmar Union and the national independence movement in the 15th century. The Danish King
Christian II was able to enter the city in 1520. On
November 8,
1520, massive executions of opposition figures, called the
Stockholm Bloodbath, took place. This massacre set off further uprisings, which eventually led to the break-up of the Kalmar Union. With the accession of
Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the establishment of a royal power, the population of Stockholm began to grow, reaching ten thousand by 1600.
The 17th century saw Sweden rise into a major European power, reflected in the development of the city of Stockholm. From 1610 to 1680, the population multiplied sixfold. In 1634, Stockholm became the official capital of the Swedish empire. Trading rules were also created that gave Stockholm an essential monopoly over trade between foreign merchants and other Swedish and
Scandinavian territories.
Between 1713–1714, Stockholm suffered from the
Black Death. After the end of the
Great Northern War and the destruction of several areas of the city in 1721, the city stagnated. Population growth halted and economic growth slowed. However, Stockholm maintained its role as the political centre of Sweden and continued to develop culturally under
Gustav III. The royal opera is a good architectural example of this era.
By the second half of the 19th century, Stockholm had regained its leading economic role. New industries emerged, and Stockholm transformed into an important trade and service centre, as well as a key gateway point within Sweden. The population also grew radically during this time, mainly through immigration. At the end of the century, less than 40% of the residents were Stockholm-born. Settlement began to expand outside of the city limits. In the 19th century, a number of scientific institutes opened in Stockholm, including the
Karolinska Institute, and the
General Art and Industrial Exposition was held in 1897.
During the latter half of the 20th century, Stockholm became a modern, technologically-advanced, and ethnically diverse city. Many historical buildings were torn down, including the entire historical district of
Klara, and replaced with modern architecture. Throughout the century, many industries shifted away from work-intensive activities into more high-technology and service-industry areas.
The city continued to expand and new districts were created, such as
Rinkeby, and
Tensta, some with high proportions of immigrants.
Geography
Location
Stockholm is located on Sweden's east coast, where Lake Mälaren meets the
Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consists of fourteen islands, all part of the
archipelago. The geographical city centre is virtually situated on the water, in the bay
Riddarfjärden.
For details about the other municipalities usually considered part of Stockholm, see respective municipality. North of Stockholm Municipality:
Järfälla,
Solna,
Täby,
Sollentuna,
Lidingö,
Upplands Väsby,
Österåker,
Sigtuna,
Sundbyberg,
Danderyd,
Vallentuna,
Ekerö,
Upplands-Bro and
Vaxholm. South of Stockholm:
Huddinge,
Nacka,
Botkyrka,
Haninge,
Tyresö,
Värmdö and
Salem.
Stockholm Municipality
Stockholm Municipality is an administrative unit defined by geographical borders. The semi-officially adopted name for the municipality is
City of Stockholm (
Stockholms stad in Swedish). As a municipality, the City of Stockholm is subdivided into district councils, or boroughs, which carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure and cultural services within their respective areas. The City of Stockholm is usually described in terms of its three main parts:
Stockholm City Centre (
Innerstaden),
South Stockholm (
Söderort) and
West Stockholm (
Västerort). The districts of respective parts are:
Climate
Stockholm has a
humid continental climate. Due to the city's high northern latitude, the climate of Stockholm is extremely varied, with distinct seasons. At the winter solstice in late December, the day lasts about 6 hours, whereas at the summer solstice in late June, Stockholm's daylight period extends beyond 18 hours.
Stockholm has pleasantly warm summers with cool evenings and cold, often cloudy winters. The spring and fall could range from cool to mild, or even sometimes warm. The average daily temperature in the July is 18°C (64°F) and in January -3°C (27°F).
High temperatures above 25°C (77°F) occurs on average 16 days each summer.
The yearly precipitation is around 539 mm (21.2 inches), with summer being somewhat wetter than winter.
Snow could occur from November to end of April, with 16 snowy days each winter season.
Typical temperatures and precipitation for each month:
Politics and government
Municipalities are responsible for government-mandated duties, and elections for the
Municipal council are held every four years, parallel to the
general elections.
Following the
2006 municipal elections, the seats are divided in the following way:
The
Mayor of Stockholm is as of April 2008
Sten Norind from the Moderate Party.
Economy
The vast majority of Stockholmians work in the
service industry, which accounts for roughly 85% of jobs in Stockholm. The almost total absence of heavy industry makes Stockholm one of the world's cleanest
metropolises.
The last decade has seen a significant number of jobs created in
high technology companies. Large employers include
IBM,
Ericsson, and
Electrolux. A major IT centre is located in
Kista, in northern Stockholm.
Stockholm is Sweden's financial centre. Major Swedish banks, such as
Swedbank,
Handelsbanken, and
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, are headquartered in Stockholm, as are the major insurance companies
Skandia and
Trygg-Hansa. Stockholm is also home to Sweden's foremost stock exchange, the
Stockholm Stock Exchange (
Stockholmsbörsen). Finally, about 45% of Swedish companies with more than 200 employees are headquartered in Stockholm.
Famous clothes retailer
H&M is headquartered in the city too.
In the last years, tourism has played an important part in the city's economy. Between 1991–2004, annual overnight stays increased from 4 to 7.7 million.
Largest companies by number of employees:
Ericsson – 8,430
Posten – 4,710
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) – 4,240
Swedbank – 3,610
Södersjukhuset (Southern Hospital) – 3,610
Nordea – 2,820
Handelsbanken – 2,800
IBM Svenska – 2,640
Capgemini – 2,500
Securitas – 2,360
Connex – 2,300
ISS Facility Services – 2,000
Sveriges Television (public television) – 1,880
Sodexho – 1,580
Education
Research and higher education in the sciences started in Stockholm in the 18th century, with an education in medicine and various research institutions, such as the
Stockholm Observatory. The medical education was eventually formalized in 1811 as the
Karolinska Institutet. The
Royal Institute of Technology (
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, or
KTH) was founded in 1827 and is currently Scandinavia's largest higher education institute of technology with 13,000 students.
Stockholm University, founded in 1878 with university status granted in 1960, has 35,000 students as of 2004. It also incorporates many historical institutions, such as the Observatory, the
Swedish Museum of Natural History, and the botanical garden
Bergianska trädgården. The
Stockholm School of Economics, founded in 1909, is one of few private institutions of higher education in Sweden.
In the
fine arts, educational institutions include the
Royal College of Music, which has a history going back to the conservatory founded as part of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1771, the
Royal University College of Fine Arts, which has a similar historical association with the
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and a foundation date of 1735, and the
Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting, which is the continuation of the school of the
Royal Dramatic Theatre, once attended by
Greta Garbo. Other schools include the design school
Konstfack, founded in 1844, the
University College of Opera (founded in 1968, but with older roots), the
University College of Dance, and the
Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut (the University College of Music Education).
The
Södertörn University College was founded in 1995 as a multidisciplinary institution for southern
Metropolitan Stockholm, to balance the many institutions located in the northern part of the region.
Other institutes of higher education are:
Military Academy Karlberg, the world's oldest military academy to remain in its original location, inaugurated in 1792 and housed in Karlberg Palace.
Ersta Sköndal University College
The Stockholm School of Theology (Teologiska Högskolan, Stockholm)
The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, or GIH)
The Stockholm Institute of Education (Lärarhögskolan i Stockholm)
Demographics
The Stockholm region is home to around 20% of Sweden's total population, and accounts for about 25% of the gross domestic product.
The geographical notion of "Stockholm" has changed throughout the times. By the turn of the 19th century, Stockholm basically consisted of the area today known as City Centre, roughly or 1/5 of the current municipal area. In the ensuing decades several other areas were incorporated (such as Brännkyrka Municipality in 1913, at which time it had 25,000 inhabitants, and Spånga in 1949). The municipal border was established in 1971 – with the exception of Hansta, in 1982 purchased by Stockholm Municipality from Sollentuna Municipality and today a nature reserve.
Of the population of 765,044 (2004), 370,482 were men and 394,562 women. The average age is 39.8 years; 40.5% of the population is between 20 and 44 years.
309,480 people, or 40.4% of the population, over the age 15 were unmarried. 211,115 people, or 27.5% of the population, were married. 85,373, or 11.1% of the population, had been married but divorced.
Historical population
Population in the City of Stockholm from 1750 to present:
Stockholm Pride is the largest Pride event in the Nordic countries and takes place in the last week of July every year. The Stockholm Pride always ends with a parade and in 2007, 50 000 people marched with the parade and about 500 000 watched it.
The Stockholm Marathon takes place on a Saturday in early June each year
The Nobel Banquet takes place at Stockholm City Hall every year on December 10
Gallery of notable buildings
Image:Stortorget Gamla Stan Buildings.JPG | Historical buildings in Gamla Stan
Image:Royal-Palace-Stockholm_2.jpg | Stockholm Palace, the official residence of the Royal Family, with its appearance consecrated between 1730–1830.
Image:Riddarholmskyrkan02.jpg | One of the oldest buildings in Stockholm, Riddarholmskyrkan
Image:Nordisches-Museum-Stockholm.jpg | The Nordic Museum at Djurgården, Neo-renaissance style, built 1907. Architect Isak Gustaf Clason
Image:Stadshuset_vinter_1.jpg|Stockholm City Hall by architect Ragnar Östberg, view over Lake Mälaren in January 2006
Image:sthlm_sergelstorg_MH5Y4176.jpg | Modern construction at Sergels Torg
Image:Stockholm Globe Arena.jpg | Stockholm Globe Arena, built 1989
Image:NK Stocholm.jpg | The bustling NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) department store. Architect Ferdinand Boberg
Image:Svenska-Akademien.jpg | Stock Exchange building at Stortorget, Old Town
Image:Af_chapman.jpg | Youth Hostel af Chapman, Skeppsholmen
Image:Nationalmuseum_stockholm_20050902_001.jpg | The National Museum
Image:Dramaten_050701.JPG | Dramaten, One of Stockholm's many theatres
Image:Stockholms-stadsbibliotek-2003-04-14.jpg | Stockholm Public Library, built 1928. Architect Gunnar Asplund
Image:Stockholm.JPG|Birger Jarls torg, on the isle of Riddarholmen
Image:Grona lund 20050902 001.jpg | Gröna Lund, Djurgården
Image:Stureplan 2007.jpg|Stureplan
Transport
Public transport
Stockholm has an extensive public transport system. It consists of the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana); three regional/suburban rail systems: commuter rail (pendeltåg), Roslagsbanan, and Saltsjöbanan; three light rail systems: Nockebybanan, Lidingöbanan, and Tvärbanan; a large number of bus lines, and an inner-city boat line.
All the land-based public transport in Stockholm County, except the airport buses/trains, are organized by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL), with the operation and maintenance of the public transport services delegated to several contractors, such as Connex who operate the metro and regional/suburban railways except for the commuter rail. The archipelago boat traffic is handled by Waxholmsbolaget.
SL has a common ticket system in the entire Stockholm County, which allows for easy travel between different modes of transport. The tickets are of two main types, single ticket and travel cards, both allowing for unlimited travel with SL in the entire Stockholm County for the duration of the ticket validity. Starting April 1st, 2007, a new zone system(A,B,C) and price system applies for single tickets. Single tickets are now available in forms of cash ticket, individual unit pre-paid tickets, pre-paid ticket slips of 10, sms-ticket and machine ticket. Cash tickets bought at the point of travel are the most expensive and pre-paid tickets slips of 10 are the cheapest. A single ticket is valid for one hour. The duration of the travel card validity depends on the exact type, they're available from 24 hours up to a year. A 30-day card costs 690 SEK (73 EUR; 115 USD). Tickets of all these types are available with reduced price for persons under 20 and over 65 years old.
Roads
Stockholm is at the junction of the European routes E4, E18 and E20. A half-completed motorway ring road exists on the south and west sides of the City Centre.
Congestion charges
Stockholm has a congestion pricing system, Stockholm congestion tax, in use on a permanent basis since August 1, 2007, after having had a seven month trial period in the first half of 2006. The City Centre is within the congestion tax zone. All the entrances and exits of this area have unmanned control points operating with automatic number plate recognition. All vehicles entering or exiting the congestion tax affected area, with a few exceptions, have to pay 10–20 SEK (1.09–2.18 EUR, 1.49–2.98 USD) depending on the time of day between 06:30 and 18:29. The maximum tax amount per vehicle per day is 60 SEK (6.53 EUR, 8.94 USD). Payment is done by various means within 14 days after one has passed one of the control points, one can't pay at the control points.
After the trial period was over, consultative referendums were held in Stockholm Municipality and several other municipalities in Stockholm County. The then-reigning government (cabinet Persson) stated that they'd only take into consideration the results of the referendum in Stockholm Municipality. The opposition parties (Alliance for Sweden) stated that if they were to form a cabinet after the general election—which was held the same day as the congestion tax referendums—they would take into consideration the referendums held in several the other municipalities as well, but didn't specify more in detail how they'd do that. The results of the referendums were such the Stockholm Municipality voted for the congestion tax, but all the other municipalities voted against it. The opposition parties won the general election and a few days before they formed government (cabinet Reinfeldt) they announced that the congestion tax would be reintroduced in Stockholm, but that the revenue would go entirely to road construction in and around Stockholm. During the trial period and according to the agenda of the previous government the revenue went entirely to public transport.
Ferries
Stockholm has regular ferry lines to Helsinki and Turku in Finland (commonly called "Finlandsfärjan"); Tallinn, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; and to the Åland islands. Travelers are no longer able to take a direct ferry to St. Petersburg, Russia as of 1998. One must first ferry to Helsinki and then onto St. Petersburg.
The large Stockholm archipelago is served by the Waxholmsbolaget archipelago boats.
Airports
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Sweden with 18 million passengers in 2007.
It is located about 40 km north of Stockholm.
International and domestic:
Only international:
Flygbussarna bus lines run to and from central Stockholm from all the airports, and the Arlanda Express airport rail link runs between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm.
Inter-city trains
The Stockholm Central Station has train connections to many Swedish towns, and to Oslo and Copenhagen. The popular X2000-service to Gothenburg takes three hours. Most of the trains are run by SJ AB.
Twin towns
The policy of Stockholm is to have informal town twinning with all capitals of the world, with its main focus being those in northern Europe. Stockholm doesn't sign any formal town twinning treaties, although the city claims to have established such treaties in the past which are still valid.
The cities claiming to having been twinned with Stockholm are:
Tirana, Albania
Kiev, Ukraine
Cali, Colombia
Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina
St. Petersburg, Russia
References and notes
Further Information
Get more info on 'Stockholm Sweden'.
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