Helsinki celebrates its bicentennial as a capital in 2012

H elsinki is in a party mood this year – the city is not only presenting itself as the World Design Capital 2012, but is also celebrating its bicentenary as the capital of Finland.

In 1812 the Russian Emperor Alexander I made this southern Finnish city the capital of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. Before this, during the Swedish rule over Finland Turku had been the country’s capital for several hundred years.

The celebrations, exhibitions and events pay particular attention to the changes and development of Helsinki from a relatively small town to a capital city and the present day metropolis.

A further topic will be the special role of Helsinki and Finland between East and West, on top of this the changing life of Helsinki’s inhabitants during the last 200 years. Another topic will be the special role of the Germans in Helsinki’s development.

The website Helsinki – 200 years as a capital presents the last 200 years of the city’s history from many different perspectives.

The World Design Capital is also taking part in the jubilee celebrations and will be presenting their own exhibition to this topic on the fortified island of Suomenlinna.

Copyright:
Source: Tourist and Convention Bureau’s Material Bank.
Photographer: Esko Jämsä, Suomen Ilmakuva Oy, Niklas Sjöblom, Ralph Larmann.