thisisFINLAND

Natural attraction: Finland’s national parks draw people to popular peaks and hidden gems

The dozens of national parks spread across Finland receive about 3.5 million visitors annually, but the numbers are unevenly distributed. While the quieter parks are farther off the beaten track, that only increases their charm.

Life & society Education

Teens in Finland learn life skills in home economics class

Mouthwatering aromas fill the air as a class of seventh-graders dig into today’s lesson: cooking a complete meal. (This article includes a couple of their dessert recipes.)

Arts & culture Dance

Dance House Helsinki provides an inspiring haven for performers and audiences

Once just a dream, Finland’s new dance centre, Dance House Helsinki, has lived up to its promise since opening in February 2022. The long-awaited venue brings the dance community together, and also features contemporary circus and other performing arts.

53.2 per 100,000 people

Most heavy metal bands per capita in the world

Source: Business Insider

Business & innovation Business

Filming in photogenic Finland

Finland offers a stunning stage for movies, documentaries and series, no matter what kind of setting is required – from cityscapes to wilderness, and from lakes to archipelagos. In recent movies, Finnish cities have even played the roles of Paris and Seattle.

Arts & culture Film

Kaurismäki in Karkkila: How Finland’s most famous film director and a writer started a small-town cinema

One year when the acclaimed film director Aki Kaurismäki made his annual return to Finland from his winter home in Portugal, he wound up creating a cinema in a disused industrial building.

Life & society Social Services

Oodi Library acts as Helsinki’s urban living room

The Finnish government built the flagship library Oodi as a present to its citizens after the country celebrated 100 years of independence in 2017. It is a clear indication of how important reading and education are to Finns.

Business & innovation Webpick

Finnish researcher looks for climate answers in cold water

When you’re an academic researcher and assistant professor in water engineering at Finland’s Aalto University, as Eliisa Lotsari is, it helps to have a passion for cold water.

Life & society Quality of life

We asked people in Finland what makes them happy

In honour of the International Day of Happiness, which takes place every year on March 20, we visit Oodi, Helsinki’s grand central library, to talk with people about what makes them happy. In our video, they tell you in their own words.

43%

of Finnish people earn a higher education degree

Source: OECD

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