Riding whitewater rapids in northern Finland’s summer wilderness

Life & society Travel

Water splashes across our faces as someone beside me screams with excitement. The raft hurtles towards a boulder, swerves away at the last second, and shoots down the rapids.

Earlier that morning, on the shore of the Kitka River near the village of Käylä, close to the Arctic Circle, wilderness guides Tuomas Törmänen and Joonas Koskinen brief the group on the adventure ahead.

A rafting guide wearing an orange helmet speaks to a group of adults and children gathered beside inflatable boats on a riverbank in northern Finland.

Experienced guides like Tuomas Törmänen (left) provide a quick introduction before we head onto the river.

Seven rapids await us today, all of them suitable for beginners. Safety comes first.

“Keep your hands and feet inside the raft at all times,” says Törmänen. “And paddle when I tell you.”

Life jackets on, helmets secured, boots tightened, and we are off.

First rapids, first screams

A guide sitting at the back of an inflatable raft shields his eyes from the bright summer light while using the outboard motor to steer across calm water bordered by forest.

Kuusamo is famous for its snowy winters, but summer visitors can enjoy the midnight sun, when daylight stretches late into the night.

“Oh wow! This is better than a theme park ride,” shouts ten-year-old Luukas.

The first rapid, Käylänkoski, is behind us. Long and relatively gentle, it still feels exciting for someone more used to dry land. I have to admit that I spent much of it paddling with my eyes shut.

After the rush, the river calms. There is time to admire the scenery drifting past: pine forests, sandy banks and crystal-clear water with fish visible below the surface. Summer cottages peek through the trees along the shoreline.

Trees line the edge of a calm river in northern Finland, their reflections shimmering in the still water beneath a pale summer sky.

Kuusamo lies just south of the Arctic Circle and is easy to reach by plane or bus.

Finland is filled with pristine lakes, rivers and rapids, and people are eager to enjoy them. Around Kuusamo, several tourism companies – including Basecamp Oulanka, our guides for the day – safely take visitors onto the water. There is plenty of space for everyone.¨

Luukas has travelled to Kuusamo with his family from southern Finland to spend the summer holiday with his grandparents. The family had talked about rafting for years, especially because their mother had tackled much larger rapids around Europe.

Now that the children are old enough, three generations are finally making the trip together.

“I’m really looking forward to the biggest rapids,” says 12-year-old Mai dreamily.

Spinning through the whitewater

Two inflatable rafts carrying people in safety gear float on a river under bright daylight in northern Finland.

Kuusamo offers rafting adventures for every skill level. On the easiest routes, no previous experience is required.

A goldeneye duck suddenly takes flight nearby as we approach Peurakoski, the next rapid.

First we paddle hard. Then Törmänen shouts, “Let go!”

Everyone pulls their paddles into the raft. The boat swings sideways into the rapid, bouncing wildly and spinning with the current. Water crashes over us as rafters scream and laugh at the same time.

Then everything settles again.

Three people wearing red life jackets sit in an inflatable raft on a river, with pine trees lining the shore behind them.

Arto Kajava (left) was born and raised in Kuusamo. His grandchildren Nooa and Mai love spending time in the northern wilderness.

Eleven-year-old Nooa pours water from his boot back into the river. His socks are soaked.

During the rafting season, Törmänen guides around 100 trips down these rivers. He knows the area’s rapids, ridges and peaks by heart.

Born and raised in Kuusamo, he once tried living in southern Finland for a few years before returning north.

“There’s a proper winter here,” he says. “I missed that. This is my place.”

Facing the toughest rapids

Water splashes from a person plunging into a river.

Did someone fall overboard? Not quite – one of the rafters simply got too warm and wanted to cool off.

Törmänen starts the raft’s motor to cross calmer stretches of the river. By now, navigating the rapids is beginning to feel almost routine.

Then comes Harjakoski – the wildest rapid of the day.

On the international scale of I to VI, it is classified as grade III: difficult. Steep drops, high waves and a rough ride lie ahead.

See what whitewater rafting is like in the heart of the wild Finnish wilderness.Video by Tuomas Törmänen

Everyone seems slightly nervous. Phones and cameras are sealed inside waterproof bags. People wedge their boots more firmly into the raft.

“Paddle!” Törmänen shouts above the roar of the water.

The raft surges forward as waves crash over us. My stomach drops as the boat plunges downward.

And then, suddenly, it is over. A huge sense of relief follows.

A perfect ending

Rafters in red life jackets pause on the water beside swimmers during a summer rafting trip on the Kitka River.

Even late in the evening, the northern sky never fully darkens.

After the final rapid, many of us jump into the river for a swim. The water is around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and feels wonderful against our skin.

Many travellers have already discovered Lapland’s exotic winter, but the northern summer remains a hidden treasure. There is gentle warmth, endless light, extraordinary nature and, above all, silence.

A child in the water grips the edge of an inflatable raft during a summer rafting trip in Finland.

Mai hopes the family will return to the rapids again soon.

An adult helps a young rafter back into the boat while floating on a forest-lined river.

Arto Kajava helps his grandson Luukas back into the boat after he jumped into the water to cool off.

By the time we reach the village of Juuma, we have travelled 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) along the river.

“It was so much fun,” Luukas says with a grin.

“We’re definitely coming back next summer,” Mai adds.

On the shore, two reindeer lie lazily in the sun.

Kuusamo and the Kitka River

Wooden duckboards form a narrow path through the forest towards a calm lake in northern Finland.

In the far north of Finland, summer still feels like a hidden world.

Kuusamo is located in northeastern Finland, just south of the Arctic Circle.
The region is known for forests, rivers, hiking trails and outdoor activities throughout the year.
Whitewater rafting routes in the area range from beginner-friendly family trips to more challenging rapids.
During midsummer, the midnight sun keeps northern Finland bright late into the night, with only a few hours of twilight in Kuusamo.

Text and photos by Emilia Kangasluoma, July 2026

5 reasons to love Finnish oats

Life & society Food

They’re sweet, savoury and everything in between

The average Finn consumes nearly ten kilograms of oats each year. Oats’ incredible versatility makes them the ultimate culinary chameleon, equally at home in sweet treats and savoury dishes. Classic Finnish oat foods include porridge, hearty breads, biscuits, flaky pies and pancakes.

Refined oat products also offer sweet and savoury options to satisfy every taste. Finnish shop shelves are stocked with oat crisps, liquorice, pasta and meat-like oat protein products, among others. There are also numerous oat-based dairy alternatives such as oat drinks, ice cream and yoghurts, as well as cheese substitutes.

They bring comfort

Eating oats is inherently nostalgic. Starting your morning with oat porridge is a tradition passed down through generations. Breakfast porridge is comfort food at its finest, bringing familiarity to daily life and evoking childhood memories. The numbers back this up: the National Porridge Survey commissioned by Raisio Group in 2019 showed that nearly every other Finn eats porridge on weekday mornings.

Finns enjoy their morning porridge in countless ways, but nearly every approach shares two things: simplicity and letting the oats shine. To enjoy your porridge like a Finn, just add a pat of butter, a drizzle of milk or a handful of berries. Finnish tradition doesn’t believe in drowning porridge in sweetness – perfect balance comes from respecting the ingredient itself.

They’re healthy

In Finland, oats are usually eaten as wholegrain, meaning they contain all the nutrient-rich parts of the grain. Beta-glucan, the water-soluble dietary fibre found in oats, has been proven through research to lower cholesterol levels. Oats are high in fibre, which promotes intestinal health and supports beneficial gut bacteria.

Additionally, they are a good source of antioxidants and selenium, which plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system and helping the body fight off infections – in short, a true superfood.

They are a source of constant innovation

Finland ranks as the world’s second-largest oat exporter (after Canada) and produces 13% of all European oats. The country is also a world leader in oat research and product development.

Meat substitutes and plant-based proteins are among the fastest-growing categories in the food industry, and Finnish companies like Raisio, Valio and Fazer have been at the forefront of this trend for several years.

In addition to creating entirely new products, Finnish oat innovators have also focused on developing gluten-free and allergen-friendly options, offering alternatives for people with various dietary restrictions and allergies.

They’re yummy

Every Finn learns to make these simple crispy oat cookies in secondary school home economics classes. You’ll need:

4 dl (1.7 cups) rolled oats
2 dl (0.85 cups) sugar
1 tsp vanilla sugar
2 tbsp wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
100 g (3.5 oz) butter (melted and cooled)
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F). Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Add butter and stir. Add eggs and mix until combined.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop the dough onto it in small spoonfuls (about 2/3 tbsp each). Place 9 – 12 per sheet, leaving plenty of room for spreading. Bake for 6 – 7 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely, the cookies will crisp up as they cool.

By Veera Kaukoniemi, ThisisFINLAND Magazine
Illustration: Hilla Ruuskanen

Unusual speed dating in Finland offers a new way to meet people

Life & society Fun

Wednesday night at the legendary Helsinki restaurant Ilves is anything but quiet. The air buzzes with possibility. Strangers wander in, some chasing love, others simply avoiding a lonely evening.

Tatskatytöt – literally “tattoo girls” – is the name used by a duo of tattoo artists, Salla Ollakka and Lee Su Ling. What began as a project has grown into a movement, a series of social events that unite people at bars, festivals and museums across Finland. Their mission: to create safe, lively spaces where everyone feels welcome, no matter who you are or whom you love.

From “slow-friending” sessions to pub quizzes, bingo and group games, the events are designed to break the ice and foster genuine connections. Run in both Finnish and English, they draw a mix of locals, international students and people who have recently moved to Finland.

Returning to real life

Pairs of participants sit opposite one another along a long wooden table in a dimly lit bar, leaning in to talk over drinks and small candles during a structured social event.

Restaurant tables glow with candlelight, roses bloom and question cards await.

In a screen-obsessed world, real connection is becoming rare. That may be why Tatskatytöt thrive: They offer something you can’t scroll past. Meeting face-to-face isn’t always easy, but sometimes all it takes is a time, a place and some sisu (that special Finnish combination of courage and perseverance).

At six o’clock sharp, the organisers start signing up the crowd. In less than 15 minutes, both speed-dating rounds are full. Friends and curious passersby fill the place – not just hopeful romantics.

Hiski Ruusulampi arrives early. He knows how quickly the place comes alive, having already experienced five of these events. Ruusulampi is not looking simply for love, but for authentic interactions, which he feels are rare these days.

A man with a numbered sticker on his shirt leans forward in conversation across a small table, with a glass of beer, a prompt card and a single white flower in a bottle between him and his partner.

Hiski Ruusulampi has attended several Tatskatytöt events and says he values the chance for in-person conversation.

The atmosphere is warm and playful. Themed icebreakers and the gentle encouragement of the hosts make the events welcoming, even for the shyest guests.

Who shows up and why

A young woman with long blonde hair smiles across the table at her conversation partner in a warmly lit venue, while other attendees chat in the background.

Heta Rantakokko has attended more than ten Tatskatytöt events. Her advice? Step out of your comfort zone and into the real world.

Tatskatytöt strive for real inclusivity. They want to be “warm and approachable,” says Ollakka. “We support all rainbow communities, so we want to offer events for them, too.” The Tatskatytöt community is for everyone – you’ll see people from young adults to those in their 60s at the events.

Dating apps? Tried and tired. Swiping matches that never turn into dates is exhausting.

Another participant, Heta Rantakokko, says the event is interesting because it sparks conversations with people you’d never meet otherwise. Like Ruusulampi, she’s not chasing love – just a fun night out and a wider social circle.

Drinks, a lit candle and a floral decoration sit between two people in conversation across a cosy bar table.

The bar setting helps, Heta Rantakokko says. The concept also works well in other settings, such as Helsinki’s Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.

The organisers were sceptical about whether their idea would work in Finland, so they aimed to make it inviting.

After each round, participants note the numbers of people they would like to see again. If there’s a match, Tatskatytöt handle the introductions later. There are no awkward rejections, just good vibes.

Two women with tattoos on their arms sit side by side at a wooden table, smiling beneath pink bunting in a warmly lit venue.

Tatskatytöt hope to inspire bravery in the face of loneliness.

As the night winds down, guests are already asking about the next event. Some who arrived solo head out with new friends, while others are happy to know they have a place to return to whenever they’re ready to try again.

By Céilidhe Becker, May 2026
Photos by Emilia Kangasluoma

Want in? Check out Tatskatytöt on Instagram, Facebook or Menokone for event details.

Idyllic Finnish cottage features vintage design and enchanting gardens

Life & society Lifestyle

A winding gravel road leads to the former harbour of the Strömfors ironworks in Loviisa, a town on the southern coast of Finland, about 85 kilometres (50 miles) east of Helsinki. A slope rises, dotted here and there with red-ochre cottages.

They once housed the ironworks’ dockworkers and formed a village of their own. In one idyllic little cottage, with white-paned windows, a family now spends time year-round.

“The exterior is protected and, to us, perfect,” says Pia Lohikoski. “We want it to look old inside as well. This is our cottage, and I’m putting in the things I like and enjoy!”

The Lohikoskis have furnished the cottage with nostalgic pieces and rustic country items. Pia collects all kinds of vintage objects and loves flea markets, so the kitchen is full of retro jars, colourful dishes and pieces from Finnish ceramics brand Arabia from decades past. The walls wear traditional, colour-rich wallpaper.

“On our first visit, I walked between these boulders,” says Lohikoski. “It was raining. I fell in love with the yard – it has a fairytale-forest feel all year round.”

The home is featured on Kotona.com, a Finnish lifestyle site covering homes, design, crafts and everyday living in Finland. (Kotona means “at home” in Finnish.)

5 steps to a happier life: How a Finnish designer regained creativity

Life & society Wellbeing

At 19, Emmi Salonen moved from Finland to the UK to improve her English. She ended up staying to study graphic design, and eventually built a successful international career.

She founded her own studio in 2005. Her work ranged from exhibitions and book design to visual identities, and took her across the globe. Over time, the pace became unsustainable and the growing workload led to burnout.

“I lost touch with myself, my creativity and what brought me joy,” she says.

In her book, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook (BIS Publishers, 2025), Salonen describes what happened: “I started noticing a new level of exhaustion after work each day. I stopped seeing my friends and started neglecting exercise. Over weeks that became months, I realised I felt increasingly unwell. More worryingly to me, I realised that I no longer wanted to create.”

As a child, she had developed a connection to nature. As an adult, that bond came to shape both her work and her recovery.

Growing up in Turku in southwestern Finland, Salonen had spent her summers at her family’s holiday cottage in the archipelago. There, she and her siblings roamed forests and coastal cliffs, embraced the seemingly endless white nights (when the sun hardly sets at all) and witnessed nature come alive after the long Nordic winter.

A year of recovery and reflection

Forested islands and pink and grey clouds are reflected in a calm water surface in Finland.

Spending summers at the family cottage in the southwestern Finnish archipelago, Emmi Salonen realised that she gains a lot of her energy from nature.Photo: Emmi Salonen

After realising she had burnout, Salonen took a year-long sabbatical, travelling alone to recover her energy and reflect on what truly mattered to her. During this time, she began to shape a personal framework that would become the foundation of her five-step wellbeing approach.

Her family encouraged her to share her ideas with others facing similar challenges. While hosting online talks and workshops during the Covid-19 lockdown, she noticed that her framework resonated with people. As restrictions eased, invitations arrived from conferences, universities and organisations in countries such as Japan, Australia and Canada.

“It took me by surprise, how much demand there was for a structured approach to healing,” she tells me.

From personal insight to practical workbook

A photo of the book The Creative Wellbeing Handbook, by Finnish designer Emmi Salonen, shows some squares and a circular chart with various colours.

Emmi Salonen’s book includes easy exercises and tips to increase happiness and find sources of energy in everyday life.Photo: Emmi Salonen

Salonen eventually decided to document the process that had helped her recover. Nearly two years later, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook was completed, combining research, writing and design into a practical tool.

“It is an exercise book where people can dive into the areas resonating with them, not just a story about my journey,” she says. Within three months, the publisher had to order a second print run.

At the core of Salonen’s approach are five interconnected elements.

The Creative Ecosystem: 5 elements of wellbeing

Connection: Connecting with yourself is about understanding what gives your life meaning. For Finnish designer Emmi Salonen, this includes regularly engaging with other creative people and intentionally setting aside time each week for meaningful interaction.
Wonder is rooted in curiosity. Inspired by nature, Salonen actively seeks time outdoors. As a visual person, she also looks for colours and patterns in everyday surroundings.
Pause: Creating space for stillness is essential. One of Salonen’s daily practices is to avoid using her phone in the morning, allowing time for a calm and undisturbed start to the day. She encourages everyone to take a peaceful moment as a source of energy. “It is such a grounding way to begin the day,” she says.
Movement supports both physical and mental wellbeing. Salonen takes daily walks, and highlights research showing that even short walks increase creative output by up to 60 percent. Walking can also have positive effects on dementia and depression. “Movement is also about keeping your mind flexible,” she says. “We all experience negative thoughts, but learning to shift our focus helps us manage anxiety.”
Joy can be found in small, intentional moments, such as collecting fresh flowers or revisiting a happy memory. Simple practices can help boost positive emotions and overall wellbeing.

Distinctly Finnish viewpoint

A woman, Finnish designer Emmi Salonen, stands barefoot in a forest, leaning one hand against a large tree trunk.

Photo: Jamie Thomas

Salonen sees a clear connection between her work and her Finnish roots. Growing up in a culture known for its practicality has influenced her systematic approach, while Finland’s deep relationship with nature continues to shape her philosophy.

“Finns listen to nature and retreat to it regularly,” she says. “It is one of the powerful ways we recharge.”

Each year, Salonen and her family return to their archipelago cottage for a summer creative retreat, gathering strength from being in nature. For many Finns, nature is a happy place to pause, reflect and reconnect.

“It was in the Finnish archipelago, where every detail in nature is interconnected, that I found the inspiration for the Creative Ecosystem,” Salonen says.

The science behind happiness

In addition to her work as a designer and author, Salonen is also a trained happiness facilitator who has studied positive psychology and wellbeing science. She refers to research by Sonya Lyubomirsky, which suggests that approximately 50 percent of happiness is influenced by genetics, 40 percent by intentional actions and only 10 percent by external circumstances.

“How we think and what we do has a significant impact, regardless of life’s challenges,” she says.

Salonen encourages people to begin by getting to know themselves. What brings you joy, what provides meaning and what influences your emotional state? This awareness, she believes, is the foundation for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Her message is simple but powerful: Small, conscious changes can lead to lasting wellbeing.

By Catarina Stewen, June 2026

Alvar Aalto’s Finland: Architecture designed for people

Arts & culture Architecture

Few architects have shaped Finland’s built environment as profoundly as Alvar Aalto.

Widely regarded as the country’s most influential architect and designer, Aalto helped define a distinctly Nordic vision of modernism. From public buildings and churches to housing developments, furniture and glassware, his work can be found throughout Finland and far beyond.

Today, a collection of 13 sites connected to his legacy is seeking recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Aalto Works.

Architecture designed for people

White brick structures frame the entrance to the Muuratsalo Experimental House, where a low red brick building stands among pine trees and leafy vegetation.

Muuratsalo Experimental House (1952–54) is a studio and summer residence designed by Alvar and Elissa Aalto for themselves. At Muuratsalo, the Aaltos had the opportunity to experiment with materials, forms and construction techniques.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (1898–1976) was born in Kuortane, western Finland and studied architecture at the Helsinki University of Technology, now part of Aalto University. During the 20th century, he emerged as one of the leading figures of modernism, developing a style that combined functionality with warmth, natural materials and close attention to human needs.

Alvar Aalto looks towards the camera while working at a desk covered with drawings, a set square and other drafting instruments.

Architect Alvar Aalto, photographed here in the 1940s, designed buildings in Finland, across Europe and in the United States. Photo: Finnish Heritage Agency

Rather than viewing buildings as isolated structures, Aalto designed complete environments. Together with his first wife, architect and designer Aino Aalto, and later with his second wife, architect Elissa Aalto, he created projects in which architecture, interiors, furniture and lighting formed a unified whole.

Natural light, surrounding landscapes and carefully chosen materials such as brick and wood became hallmarks of his work. Organic forms softened the geometric language of modernism, creating buildings that felt both functional and inviting.

White multi-storey buildings of Paimio Sanatorium stand within a pine forest, surrounded by lawns and pathways under a clear blue sky.

Completed in 1933 as a tuberculosis sanatorium, Paimio Sanatorium played a key role in launching the international careers of architects Alvar and Aino Aalto.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Aino Aalto, wearing a striped blouse and headscarf, sits beside Alvar Aalto in a black-and-white photograph taken indoors.

Aino and Alvar Aalto married in 1924. They had two children together: Johanna and Hamilkar.Photo: Helsinki University of Technology

One of the best examples is Paimio Sanatorium, completed in 1933. Designed as a tuberculosis hospital, it was planned around the wellbeing of its patients, from room layouts and colour schemes to furniture and lighting.

A cross-sectional drawing of a patient room window designed by Alvar Aalto for Paimio Sanatorium shows multiple lines representing incoming daylight directed across the room towards a reclining patient on a bed.

Drawing of the patient room window in Paimio Sanatorium.Picture: Alvar Aalto Foundation

At the Paimio Sanatorium, Aalto paid attention to even the smallest details. Yellow floors in the lobby and stairwells were intended to lift patients’ spirits, while rubber flooring reduced noise by muffling footsteps. Patient rooms were carefully positioned to provide open views of the surrounding pine forest, reinforcing the healing connection between architecture and nature.

A staircase in Paimio Sanatorium features vivid yellow steps and floors, black handrails, white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows facing a landscape of pine trees.

A yellow staircase in Paimio Sanatorium. Paimio Sanatorium served as a hospital and rehabilitation centre until 2014.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Aalto’s influence extended beyond architecture. In 1935, Alvar and Aino Aalto co-founded Artek with Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, creating a company that remains a leading name in Nordic design. He also designed the iconic Savoy Vase, one of Finland’s most recognisable design objects.

Five landmarks of Aalto’s architecture

An Alvar Aalto-designed pendant lamp hangs within Lakeuden Risti Church in Seinäjoki, featuring cylindrical and curved metal elements with illuminated bulbs set against tall white walls and windows.

Alvar Aalto believed in designing every aspect of a space as a unified whole. He often complemented his buildings with furniture and lighting designed to suit their proportions. Lakeuden Risti Church in Seinäjoki was completed in 1960.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Many of Aalto’s most celebrated works can still be visited across Finland.

Natural light enters the council chamber at Säynätsalo Town Hall through a large gridded window, illuminating red brick walls, wooden furniture and tiered rows of seating.

The council chamber at Säynätsalo Town Hall is filled with natural light. Red brick serves as the main material throughout both the exterior and the public interiors. The Town Hall was completed in 1952.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Säynätsalo Town Hall in Jyväskylä, central Finland, is regarded as a masterpiece of civic architecture and democratic design.

In a black-and-white photograph from 1934, patients rest on reclining chairs along the roof terrace of Paimio Sanatorium, overlooking surrounding forest and landscaped grounds.

Patients enjoying the view at the roof terrace of the Sanatorium in 1934.Photo: Gustaf Welin / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Paimio Sanatorium is internationally recognised as a landmark of healthcare architecture.

A long white apartment block from Alvar Aalto’s Sunila residential community in Kotka, Finland, stretches across the frame with balconies, large windows and a forested landscape behind it.

Between 1936 and 1939, Alvar Aalto designed the Sunila pulp mill and its residential community. Today, Sunila is a protected forest suburb and the largest completed architectural ensemble created by Aalto.Photo: Foto Roos / Alvar Aalto Foundation

The Sunila Housing Area in the southeastern port city of Kotka demonstrates how industry, housing and nature can form a cohesive community.

An architectural drawing shows Alvar Aalto’s Seinäjoki Town Hall in Finland, with a tall central structure, vertical façade lines and a long horizontal building extension.

After winning two separate architectural competitions, Alvar Aalto was given the opportunity to design Seinäjoki’s civic centre in the 1960s. The ensemble comprises a church, the Town Hall (pictured), a library, a parish centre and a state office building commissioned by the Finnish government.Drawing: Alvar Aalto Foundation

The Seinäjoki Civic and Cultural Centre in western Finland creates a unified urban ensemble of administrative, religious and cultural buildings.

An overhead view of the National Pensions Institute (KELA) central hall in Helsinki shows Alvar Aalto’s interior design with partitioned desks, glass panels, hanging lights and office equipment from the 1950s.

Customer service facilities of the central hall at the National Pensions Institute (KELA), 1953–57.Photo: Heikki Havas / Alvar Aalto Foundation

The Social Insurance Institution Headquarters in Helsinki shows how public architecture can combine functionality and accessibility.

Aalto Works and the UNESCO nomination

An interior view of the University of Jyväskylä campus in Finland shows a stepped auditorium with wooden seats, red brick walls, large windows, white pendant lights and a curved wooden ceiling feature above the teaching area.

The University of Jyväskylä campus, designed in the 1950s, is based on the American campus concept. It comprises numerous buildings arranged around a central sports field.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

Aalto’s architectural legacy is now the focus of an international heritage initiative. The Aalto Works nomination brings together 13 sites that collectively illustrate the development of his human-centred modernism.

A close-up photograph shows a partially open timber door with a rounded sculptural handle, brass fittings and warm wooden surfaces of the former customer service counter at the National Pensions Institute of Finland.

Detail of the former customer service counter in the National Pensions Institute.Photo: Maija Holma / Alvar Aalto Foundation

The proposed serial World Heritage site includes Paimio Sanatorium, Säynätsalo Town Hall, the Sunila Housing Area, Finlandia Hall, the Aalto House and Studio Aalto in Helsinki, the Muuratsalo Experimental House, the Church of the Three Crosses in Imatra, Villa Mairea and several other key works. The nomination also recognises the contributions of Aino and Elissa Aalto, whose work helped shape many of these projects.

A colourful architectural rendering shows Villa Mairea in Noormarkku, south-western Finland, set within a wooded plot with open grass areas, winding paths and a drive leading through the forest.

Alvar Aalto designed Villa Mairea (1939) as a home for his friends in Noormarkku, southwestern Finland. The house features a rich palette of materials, including wood and slate.Site plan: Alvar Aalto Foundation

Alvar Aalto, wearing a dark jacket, light jumper and loose trousers, stands beside Elissa Aalto, who wears a light blouse and patterned skirt, outside their summer house in Muuratsalo, Finland.

Alvar Aalto and his second wife Elissa Aalto outside their summer house in Muuratsalo.Photo: Göran Schildt

If inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, Aalto Works would join Finland’s existing World Heritage Sites, including Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Old Rauma, the Struve Geodetic Arc and several others.

Architect Alvar Aalto died in Helsinki in May 1976 at the age of 78. More than fifty years after his death, Aalto’s work is still impactful, functional and simply beautiful.

Text by Emilia Kangasluoma, June 2026

The last ferry to a Finnish island

Life & society Travel

The smell of the sea arrives before the island itself.

As the ferry pulls away from the mainland, the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia begin to rock gently beneath us. Gulls wheel overhead, their cries carried on the wind. Hair tangles in the salt air.

We are bound for Hailuoto, the largest island in the Bay of Bothnia, just off the coast of Oulu in northern Finland. Known for its sweeping sandy beaches, windswept pine forests and lively cultural scene, the island has long felt slightly apart from the rest of Finland.

Passengers aboard a yellow ferry look out across choppy waters towards a second ferry, with part of the new Hailuoto bridge visible on the horizon.

Oulu resident Juha Ristola (left) visits Hailuoto throughout the year to watch birds. In June, he made what was likely his final trip to the island by ferry.

For centuries, reaching Hailuoto has required a boat. In winter, locals have crossed on an ice road stretching across the frozen sea. But change is arriving. In June 2026, shortly after our visit, an 8.4 kilometre (5.2 mile) bridge will open between the island and the mainland, ending ferry crossings and transforming how people arrive here.

The question lingering across Hailuoto is simple: what happens when an island becomes easier to reach?

An island still apart

An aerial view shows the shoreline at Marjaniemi on Hailuoto, with sandy beaches, red wooden cottages, a harbour and the Marjaniemi Lighthouse beside the Gulf of Bothnia.

The Hailuoto bridge will open in summer 2026. The new connection consists of two long bridges linked by a causeway, stretching a total of 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles).

On a long sandy beach, sisters Sanna and Johanna are walking with Sanna’s daughter, Iida.

“Nature is right at your fingertips here,” says Sanna Varanka.

“That’s what makes this place special. You don’t find this kind of peace everywhere.”

Many visitors come for precisely that reason.

A pink float, white buoy and coiled ropes lie among large fishing nets in a close up view.

Fishing has long been one of Hailuoto’s most important livelihoods.

Visitors walk along a wooden boardwalk across coastal grassland, with the Marjaniemi Lighthouse and red wooden buildings visible in the background.

Marjaniemi is home to several walking trails, including routes that are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Two people kneel on a pebble-strewn shore, reaching towards small stones among larger rounded rocks at the water's edge.

The sea is full of small treasures. Which stone will be today’s most beautiful find?

Hailuoto is a young island, still rising from the sea as the land continues to rebound after the last Ice Age. Each year it grows slightly larger. Given enough time, it will eventually become connected to the mainland.

The landscape is vast: pine forests shaped by coastal winds, shifting dunes and wide beaches opening onto the horizon. Even on a chilly June day, walkers, birdwatchers and treasure hunters roam the shoreline.

A rocky shoreline on Hailuoto stretches into shallow sea water, with two distant people standing in the water near the horizon under an overcast sky.

When Finns decide to go for a swim, the water is never too cold.

Hailuoto is also a paradise for birdlife. Located along major migratory routes, the island attracts birdwatchers throughout the year.

Life by the lighthouse

A woman wearing a light knitted jumper, dark jacket and glasses, leans against the entrance doorway of Marjaniemi Lighthouse, framed by a tall arched opening with dark green doors set into a white wall.

Auli Sipola is one of Hailuoto’s local guides and has lived on the island all her life.

Watching over the coast is Marjaniemi Lighthouse. The current tower has stood here in the village of Marjaniemi since 1871, guiding ships through the northern waters of the Baltic Sea.

Local guide Auli Sipola leads the way inside. There are 110 steps to the top, enough to justify a short pause halfway up.

A woman climbs a narrow stairway inside Marjaniemi Lighthouse near a small hatch window, through which red buildings and part of the surrounding village are visible.

Through a small hatch in the lighthouse, visitors can spot the island’s historic pilot station.

Sipola has spent her entire life on Hailuoto. During her working years, she commuted to the city of Oulu.

“In winter I travelled across the ice road, and when the sea was open, by ferry,” she says.

Like many islanders, she wonders how the new bridge will change everyday life. Easier access will undoubtedly bring more visitors, but what will happen to the slower rhythm that has defined the island for generations?

Viewed through the safety railing of Marjaniemi Lighthouse, red buildings, a small harbour and breakwaters stretch along the shoreline beside the Gulf of Bothnia.

Sweden lies just over 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Hailuoto, across the Gulf of Bothnia.

The lighthouse lamp and surrounding Fresnel lens components inside Marjaniemi Lighthouse in Hailuoto are seen from below through the structure's glass and metal framework.

Marjaniemi Lighthouse was designed by architect Axel Hampus Dahlström in the late 19th century. The lighthouse has operated automatically since 1962.

A woman inside Marjaniemi Lighthouse, touches the lantern room window frame beside a distance marker, with the lighthouse lens structure in the foreground.

Auli Sipola guides visitors around Hailuoto’s attractions. The lighthouse remains one of the island’s most popular sights.

On a clear day, the view stretches as far as the coastal town of Raahe, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the south. Today, low clouds obscure the horizon.

Below the lighthouse lies the old fishing village of Marjaniemi. Rows of red wooden cottages line the shore. Many now serve as holiday homes, though the village also welcomes visitors with cafés, accommodation and restaurants.

A bowl of creamy salmon soup with diced potatoes and vegetables sits on a dark table beside a slice of buttered rye bread and a glass of water.

Salmon soup is considered almost a national dish in Finland. It is served throughout the country and rarely disappoints.

Just behind the lighthouse stands Hailuodon Halstari, a traditional smokehouse that boldly claims to serve the world’s best fish soup. Its creamy salmon soup makes a convincing case.

Before the bridge

A set of green fishing nets draped on circular metal frames stands beside the coast in Hailuoto, with grass, water and a cloudy sky surrounding the structure.

Fishing nets and boats are part of Hailuoto’s coastal charm.

Despite its population of fewer than 1,000 residents, Hailuoto has developed a cultural life that feels remarkably vibrant for its size.

Throughout the year the island hosts festivals, exhibitions and community events. In July, music lovers gather for Bättre Folk, an independent festival that attracts artists and audiences from across Finland. The environmental artworks of artist Anni Rapinoja can also be found across the island landscape, blurring the line between nature and culture.

At the centre of the island are its everyday essentials: a school, daycare centre, grocery store and church. Completed in 1972, Hailuoto Church is a striking example of Finnish modernist architecture, with its steep triangular roof and large glass façade.

The modernist Hailuoto Church stands amid trees with its steep triangular roof and glass façade visible from the exterior.

Hailuoto Church was completed and consecrated in 1972. It was designed by architects Irma and Matti Aaltonen.

Handmade craft models of small seaside cottages on driftwood bases are displayed in a shop on Hailuoto, alongside decorative fish-shaped ornaments.

The island’s maritime heritage is reflected in many of the products sold in the shop. Most are handmade on Hailuoto.

Framed by wooden walls and a narrow corridor, a visitor stands in a brightly lit gallery space, looking at artworks on display at Galleria Luoto in Hailuoto.

Galleria Luoto hosts a changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions throughout the year.

Nearby, the shop Luovon Puoji & Pariton Kuppi offers locally made crafts and souvenirs. In the same courtyard sits Hailuodon Panimo, Finland’s first organic brewery and a popular stop for visitors.

Kai Öystilä, who now lives in Espoo in southern Finland but grew up across the water in Oulunsalo, has just stopped by to pick up drinks for a sauna evening. His children, Valtteri and Emma, have visited the island many times.

“Hailuoto has a character all of its own,” he says.

Two children and an adult pose beside a small red pedal car on a grassy path in Hailuoto, with trees, brick buildings and hanging flower baskets in the background.

For the Öystilä family, Hailuoto is a familiar destination. The completion of the new bridge brings mixed feelings, as the island is bound to change.

Soon it is time to board the ferry back to the mainland.

For now, at least.

The crossing that has defined life on Hailuoto for centuries is entering its final chapter. The bridge will bring convenience, new opportunities and more visitors.

Yet many will miss the ferry. After all, crossing the sea has always been part of the adventure.

Text and photos by Emilia Kangasluoma, June 2026

How Finland’s west coast became a global boatbuilding hub

Business & innovation Business

Launching a new yacht is a cause for celebration on Finland’s west coast. A brass band plays, local business leaders gather, and even the mayor may attend. But above all, the spotlight is on the boatbuilders – often hundreds of them.

We’re in the small coastal town of Pietarsaari, known as Jakobstad in Swedish, which is one of Finland’s official languages and the predominant language in the area.

The entire community takes pride in the sailing yachts built by Baltic Yachts. Designed with highly specific requirements, these vessels occupy a niche market with only a few thousand potential buyers globally. And the expertise required to build them is found, for good reason, right here in the Ostrobothnia region.

If Silicon Valley is known for tech giants, Finland’s western coastline is known for boatbuilding. Along a stretch of less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Vaasa up to Kalajoki, dozens of boatyards and subcontractors form a dense industrial cluster.

Pieces of carbon fibre fabric, scissors and a tape measure lie scattered across a workshop table used in boat construction.

Boat building still requires a great deal of manual craftsmanship. Resin is used in boats as a bonding agent to secure fibreglass or carbon fibre panels together.

The roots run deep. As early as the 16th century, boatbuilding was an essential skill in the region. Communities settled along rivers, and the sea relied on shipbuilding and the tar trade for their livelihoods. The shallow, rocky coastline demanded both skilled seafarers and exceptionally durable boats. Local craftsmanship became so highly regarded that even the Swedish crown enlisted Ostrobothnian builders for its navy.

That tradition has endured, passed down through the generations. In the 1960s, the founding of the Nautor shipyard in Pietarsaari brought global recognition, with its Swan yachts becoming iconic. Skills spread as workers moved between companies, strengthening the entire regional ecosystem.

In 1973, five young professionals who had left Nautor founded their own company in the nearby village of Bosund. Their facilities were modest, and the village had just a single telephone line, but ambition was high. Their early models won awards, and the company became known as Baltic Yachts, with the slogan: “Lighter, stiffer, faster.”

Building boats to exact specifications

Workers in safety helmets assemble a large luxury yacht inside the Baltic Yachts production hall.

Boats by Baltic Yachts cost tens of millions of euros. There are only around a couple thousand potential customers worldwide.

Building a yacht worth tens of millions of euros requires absolute precision. Inside the shipyard, the air is humid, tools hum in the background, and teams carefully manoeuvre a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) windscreen into place.

Each yacht is entirely bespoke, says CEO Tom von Bonsdorff.

“We start from scratch. If a client has the vision and the means, we make it happen.”

Baltic Yachts CEO Tom von Bonsdorff stands on a walkway overlooking a workshop where a large yacht hull is being built.

At Baltic Yachts, both the hull and much of the interior are made from carbon fibre – a material that is lightweight, rigid and exceptionally durable. The largest yacht the company has built to date measures 197 feet, says CEO Tom von Bonsdorff.

A large industrial building housing Baltic Yachts’ production site stands under a clear blue sky in Pietarsaari.

Baltic Yachts moved its production from Bosund to Pietarsaari in 2009.

Requests have included a pink sailing yachts, a rare grand piano installed in the saloon, bamboo-style bathrooms and vessels designed to look a century old while incorporating the latest technology. Every detail is crafted by hand, with a single yacht requiring between 100,000 and 300,000 hours of work. The vessel currently under construction has taken two years to complete.

Despite their luxury interiors, Baltic yachts are not just beautiful; they are built to perform. They regularly win regattas in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

From craftsmanship to comfort

Workers in orange shirts handle lightweight materials during boat component production in a spacious facility at Eka Composite.

Eka Composite is a Finnish family-owned company. It has developed a specialised infusion technique in boatbuilding, reducing the weight of finished vessels by hundreds of kilograms.

Fifty kilometres (30 miles) south, in Oravainen, the bell rings for a coffee break at Eka Composite’s production facility. The scent of resin lingers in the air as workers laminate fibreglass hulls.

In another hall, systems and electronics are installed before decks are lifted into place.

Here, Quarken motorboats are built one by one. The 35-foot cabin cruiser currently on the floor – hull number 87 – is designed for comfort as much as performance. The covered helm features ventilation, a sound system, a sink and a fridge. Inside, there is sleeping space for several people and a bathroom with a shower.

A white Quarken motorboat cruises through dark blue water beside a rocky, forested shoreline flying a Finnish flag at the stern.

Quarken showcases its boats at international boat shows around the world. “The boat has to create that moment when the customer opens the door and just goes, ‘Wow,’” Roukala says.Photo: Quarken

“These boats are made for relaxed days at sea, and sometimes overnight trips,” says CEO Mikael Strand. This particular vessel will soon be shipped to Florida.

Behind Quarken is entrepreneur Osmo Roukala, who grew up around boats in Kalajoki. What began as childhood curiosity in his uncle’s workshop turned into a lifelong career. Roukala has founded several companies, including Finnmaster Boats, known across the Nordic countries.

Quarken cofounder Osmo Roukala stands in sunlight outside a workshop, wearing a dark jumper over a light blue shirt.

For Quarken, maintaining a strong Finnish identity is essential. “Everything that can be sourced in Finland, is sourced in Finland,” says cofounder Osmo Roukala.

Today, his process still begins on graph paper before evolving into digital models, virtual reality simulations and finally seaworthy vessels. Quarken boats are designed with usability in mind: easy access, practical layouts and durable, high-quality materials.

“Ninety percent of our boats are exported,” Roukala says. “For many customers, this is not their first boat. They are looking for something smaller, easier to use – but without compromising on quality.”

A global industry from a small region

Workers assemble Quarken boats inside a large factory hall, with multiple white hulls lined up across the production floor.

The interiors of Quarken boats are built using modular elements, making them easy to tailor to individual customer preferences.

Finland is a major player in boatbuilding. The Finnish Marine Industries Federation, Finnboat, says that around 60 percent of the country’s boat manufacturers are located in Ostrobothnia, accounting for more than 80 percent of the industry’s turnover.

Approximately 80 percent of Finnish-built boats are exported, reaching markets in over 50 countries, including the UK, the US, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Turkey and Greece.

With so many companies in one region, innovation has become essential. Finnish boatbuilders are known for technical experimentation and sustainable solutions, with the country considered a pioneer in areas such as recycling.

Built for demanding conditions

A worker stands on the dock beside a newly built blue and white boat at Kewatec’s shipyard on Finland’s west coast.

According to production manager Jouko Pesola, Kewatec builds ten to 30 boats each year. Boatbuilding requires extensive engineering and specialised manual work.

Not all seas are calm. When conditions turn extreme, vessels from Kewatec are called into action.

Based in Kokkola, Kewatec builds aluminium workboats for civil security, defence and infrastructure. Its portfolio includes floating hospitals and fully electric vessels. Each boat is custom designed for its purpose, requiring extensive engineering and precision.

Lightweight, durable and recyclable, many models are even self-righting.

Kewatec CEO Kent Björklund stands in the sunlight outside the company’s headquarters in western Finland.

Being Finnish is an advantage for Kewatec: customers know they are getting a durable vessel made from high-quality materials, says CEO Kent Björklund.

“Finnish boats have always been highly functional, but design matters too,” says CEO Kent Björklund.

In Kewatec’s yard, a bright orange search and rescue vessel awaits delivery to Iceland, while a blue environmental vessel stands nearby, ready to clean coastal waters. The company’s clients include navies in countries such as Greece, Tunisia and Norway, but also several universities, research organisations and even police departments around Europe.

Antennas and equipment rise above the deck of an orange workboat built by Finnish boat manufacturer Kewatec.

Kewatec was founded by entrepreneur Kalle Wargh in 1998, although its predecessor company dates back to the 1970s.

“Our reputation is everything,” Björklund says. “Being from Ostrobothnia – and from Finland – stands for reliability. We deliver what we promise.”