thisisFINLAND

Life & society Slideshows

Light and ice grace the battlements of Suomenlinna in Helsinki

View the captivating winter beauty of Helsinki’s island fortress Suomenlinna, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Life & society Education

A day in the life of Helsinki’s Strömberg School

Catch a glimpse of the Finnish education system at the progressive Strömberg School in suburban Helsinki.

Life & society Education

With free, high-quality education for all

The Finnish school system forms the basis of the country’s excellent scores in the PISA study.

Life & society Language

Aimo Sori, what’s your name?

Discover the hidden meanings behind the names of some famous and not-so-famous Finns.

Life & society Environment

Clean claim to fame in northern Finland

How a tiny village store in Finnish Lapland grew into a hypermarket powered by clean, renewable energy.

Life & society Slideshows

A gem of nature in southeastern Finland

Just a couple hours from Helsinki, Repovesi National Park forms a nature conservation success story.

Life & society Environment

Finland’s weather and light

A meteorologically minded guide to the four seasons of Finland.

Life & society Environment

Concern for a precious sea

With a catchment area spanning nine countries, the Baltic Sea is becoming overloaded.

Life & society Environment

Treasures of Finland’s boreal forests

Pick them yourself or buy them at the market: the season for berries and mushrooms lasts through summer and autumn.

Arts & culture Literature

Finland’s other epic: The Kanteletar

The Kanteletar’s ancient ballads form a companion work to the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic.

Arts & culture Literature

Kalevala: the Finnish national epic

The Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, has inspired generations of artists and helped shape the nation’s identity.

Life & society History

J.V. Snellman: Where would Finland be without him?

Philosopher, scholar, journalist and politician Johan Vilhelm Snellman played a uniquely important role in forming the Finnish national identity.

Life & society History

How Mannerheim helped Finland earn its independence

Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Finland’s most famous military leader, helped his countrymen earn “their own independent lives within the family of free peoples.” Before that, he served in the Russian military for many years; article includes slideshow.

Life & society Society

Bare facts of the sauna in Finland

Just say yes: If you want to get to know Finnish culture, don’t be intimidated by the sauna. With our beginner’s guide, there’s nothing to it.

Life & society Cuisine

Finnish cuisine – east meets west in Scandinavian style

East and west meet in Finland, where chefs combine international inspiration and high-quality domestic ingredients to create unforgettable dining experiences.

Life & society Society

A guide to Finnish customs and manners

Get to know the Finns with our abbreviated but thorough guide – a starter kit for keeping up with the Finnish culture.

Life & society Politics

Nobel recognition rewarded former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari for achieving peaceful resolutions

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for his brilliant career as a negotiator and diplomat, died on October 16, 2023.

Light and ice grace the battlements of Suomenlinna in Helsinki

A day in the life of Helsinki’s Strömberg School

With free, high-quality education for all

Aimo Sori, what’s your name?

Clean claim to fame in northern Finland

A gem of nature in southeastern Finland

Finland’s weather and light

Concern for a precious sea

Treasures of Finland’s boreal forests

Finland’s other epic: The Kanteletar

Kalevala: the Finnish national epic

J.V. Snellman: Where would Finland be without him?

How Mannerheim helped Finland earn its independence

Bare facts of the sauna in Finland

Finnish cuisine – east meets west in Scandinavian style

A guide to Finnish customs and manners

Nobel recognition rewarded former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari for achieving peaceful resolutions

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