thisisFINLAND

Helsinki’s renovated Olympic Stadium launches into a new era

The Olympic Stadium was unveiled four years after extensive renovations began. Its 1930s functionalist architecture and design have been meticulously preserved and enhanced with 21st-century technology and facilities (see photo show).

Life & society Animals

Canines contribute to Covid-19 testing at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Making an unusual coronavirus test available to passengers at the airport could provide a needed boost to confidence in international travel.

Life & society Language

A next-level Finnish language experience: Discovering dialects

Whether or not you’ve mastered Finnish, dive with us into its different dialects, as deep as you dare. You’ll get a closer look at the essence of the language.

Life & society Nature

Finding the fruits of the Finnish forest

Going out to the woods to collect mushrooms and berries is a natural pastime in Finland – some might even call it a sport.

Arts & culture Film

Filming the unusual story of Moomin creator Tove Jansson in Helsinki

We speak to director Zaida Bergroth about a film that shows viewers a new side of Finland’s Tove Jansson, the much-loved writer and artist who created the world-famous Moomin stories.

Business & innovation Sustainability

Three Finnish companies at the forefront of reducing and reusing waste

In “re” life: See how Finnish innovations and companies are contributing to responsibly recycling, replacing, reducing, repurposing and reusing plastic and other materials.

Arts & culture Design

How Finland’s Moomins moved from beloved books to coveted mugs

The first Moomin book, in 1945, introduced a cast of characters that gained international fame. We talk to the designer behind one of the most unusual Moomin success stories: the mugs that you can find in almost every Finnish household. They’re so popular that someone even wrote a master’s thesis about them.

Life & society Sports

The Finnish summer ice hockey article you didn’t even know you were waiting for

Why talk about ice hockey during the summer? Funny you should ask. The answer has to do with Finland, climate change, a group called Save Pond Hockey, the NHL and more.

Arts & culture Visual arts

New audiences continue to find Finland’s number one painter, Helene Schjerfbeck

Early in 2020, record-breaking attendance at Helsinki’s Ateneum Art Museum and the release of a feature film signalled that artist Helene Schjerfbeck is getting much-deserved attention from audiences of all ages. We talk with actor Laura Birn and curator Anna-Maria von Bonsdorff.

Life & society Nature

Life on the edge: Living on the western and eastern borders of Finland

At Finland’s easternmost and westernmost points, people go about their lives in locations that contain direct connections to the nation’s history.

Life & society Business

How a Finnish fish market stays afloat when Russian customers must stay home

Some eastern Finnish merchants normally get most of their income from Russian cross-border shoppers. To see how businesses are coping with the coronavirus situation, we visit a fish market where the parking lot is empty but the boss is already focusing on the future.

Life & society ThisisFINLAND Magazine

Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen is raising awareness

Fisherman, businessman, actor: In these three roles Jasper Pääkkönen combines his passions and missions.

Business & innovation Technology

State of the artificial: Finland expanding free online AI course to all EU languages

“Our goal is to demystify AI,” proclaims the website of Elements of AI, a free online course from the University of Helsinki and the tech firm Reaktor, now available in an increasing range of languages. Our reporter signs up to learn about artificial intelligence and how it affects our lives.

Life & society Nature

In Finland’s far north and far south, life revolves around nature

Life in Finland’s northernmost and southernmost villages offers natural beauty, but it also requires a certain kind of attitude. And you can’t be in a hurry.

Arts & culture Music

Operatic Finnish police officer’s performance resonates online

It sounds like some sort of modern fairy tale: Once upon a time, there was a police officer who turned into an opera singer. Years passed, and he turned back into a police officer. Later, he gained renewed renown on Youtube.

Life & society Environment

Up close and online: View the Finnish wilderness with webcams

Many people have had to spend long periods of time indoors, not to mention curtail travel plans, because of Covid-19 social distancing measures. With live webcams showing Finland’s wildlife and wilderness, you can pass the time and get a travel fix.

Arts & culture Equality

Tom of Finland and IDAHOTB both continue to contribute to pride and acceptance

May 8 is the birthday of Tom of Finland (1920–91), often called Finland’s most famous artist globally. Shortly after that anniversary, on May 17, the annual International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) takes place.

Helsinki’s renovated Olympic Stadium launches into a new era

Canines contribute to Covid-19 testing at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

A next-level Finnish language experience: Discovering dialects

Finding the fruits of the Finnish forest

Filming the unusual story of Moomin creator Tove Jansson in Helsinki

Three Finnish companies at the forefront of reducing and reusing waste

How Finland’s Moomins moved from beloved books to coveted mugs

The Finnish summer ice hockey article you didn’t even know you were waiting for

New audiences continue to find Finland’s number one painter, Helene Schjerfbeck

Life on the edge: Living on the western and eastern borders of Finland

How a Finnish fish market stays afloat when Russian customers must stay home

Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen is raising awareness

State of the artificial: Finland expanding free online AI course to all EU languages

In Finland’s far north and far south, life revolves around nature

Operatic Finnish police officer’s performance resonates online

Up close and online: View the Finnish wilderness with webcams

Tom of Finland and IDAHOTB both continue to contribute to pride and acceptance

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