1st December 2008
Why I love Stockholm – A Top-10 of Reasons
Although I was always attracted to the mysterious North, it took
a while before I first visited Sweden. Actually, it was my
editor who asked me to go there. In 1990 I attended a conference
near Stockholm, and fell in love with both the country and its
capital.
Since then the city has become a dear friend of mine. Maybe even
a relative, as every new visit feels like a sort of homecoming.
Stockholm never lets me down.
Nevertheless, my love for the Swedish capital does raise an
eyebrow when I mention it to others. Most people simply don’t
know anything about Stockholm, except that it’s the capital of
Sweden.
So let’s clear things up. Here is a Top-10 of reasons why I love
Stockholm – listed in no particular order.
- Stockholm is blue. If there is one thing that makes
Stockholm stand out, then it is its relationship with water. The
city was built on 14 islands, all connected with bridges for
cars AND pedestrians, and you never have to walk far to get a
stunning view over the water. - Stockholm is like Swedish design: it’s functional and
almost defines the latest trends, yet it looks great and shows
respect for history. The city is very easy to navigate, has
everything a big city should offer – excellent shopping
facilities, a vibrant nightlife, great business opportunities -
but never loses its beauty. - The city has an atmosphere that is so calm and relaxed
compared to other capitals. I don’t know why, really. Maybe it’s
the mentality of the people. Most Swedes are friendly, patient,
quiet – and helpful. Maybe it’s because there are so many open
spaces, water and parks. Or because the houses are so colorful.
Maybe it’s all of this together. - Stockholm has great tourist attractions, but never feels
touristy. Even in the most popular part of town – the historical
Old Town or Gamla Stan – there are enough quiet streets to make
a relaxing stroll. - Stockholm is green. About one third of Stockholm consists
of parks. One third! It is the first city in the world to have a
national park within the city borders. Yes, a nature reserve
right in the heart of a capital with 1.5 million people. And all
of these parks are accessible. - With around 90 museums to choose from, visiting Stockholm
is a cultural feast. And there’s a museum for every one. The
city has some of Europe’s best art museums, but also the world’s
first open-air museum (Skansen), several museums that display
all aspects of Nordic history, an old warship on display (Vasa
Museum) and even special places for kids (Junibacken, toy
museum). The state-run museums have free admission. - Stockholm is safe. OK, crime rates have gone up in recent
decades, like everywhere in the Western world. Still it’s one of
the world’s safest capitals. There are no neighborhoods you
should avoid and it’s usually no problem to walk outside at
nights. - Art is an integrated part of Stockholm city life. On the
pavement along Berzelli Park a worker pops out of the ground,
lifting a manhole cover. From a distance you won’t notice it,
but it’s a statue (‘Humor’ by KG Bejemark). There are sculptures
and statues all over Stockholm, often at unexpected places. Many
stations of the Stockholm underground (tunnelbana) are decorated
with paintings, sculptures, mosaics, installations and
engravings. And architecture is incredibly eclectic. Italian,
German, Dutch, French style – it’s all there, and often in one
design. - Which city has 24,000 islands and rocks in its backyard?
Stockholm. A huge archipelago connects the city with the Baltic
Sea and you can visit it by boat. Spend a day or so on one of
these attractive islands – you won’t regret it. - Stockholm is so clean … If you’ve been to Paris, London,
Amsterdam and then visit Stockholm, you wonder: Where do these
Swedes leave their garbage?
Every modern city has negative aspects. Too much traffic,
pollution, drunks, criminals … I don’t believe a city built by
humans will ever become perfect. But compared to other capitals,
Stockholm comes very close.
