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Christmas is probably the second most important celebration in the Swedish calendar after Midsummer. It won’t surprise you that Swedes hold many Christmas traditions – some slightly more peculiar than others – close to their heart, and you can come and experience many of them right here at Royal Djurgården.

The build-up to Christmas usually starts around mid-November, although you’ll see bottles of the infamous Swedish Julmust creeping into the supermarkets around the beginning of October (I feel like if I suggest that Julmust is a bit like coke then many Swedes will be horrified. So let’s just say that it’s a Christmas soft drink). Once the decorations go up, they’re usually just as minimalistic and sophisticated as you would expect any Scandinavian design to be.

Christmas celebrations really kick off on the first of Advent, which is the Sunday four weeks before Christmas. On this day, people light the first candle in the Advent candlestick, and then every Sunday until Christmas the next candle is also lit (and blown out after a while), until all four candles are alight. This is always a special event as it means that Christmas is really on its way.

Advent also sees the introduction of two of Sweden’s most beloved treats: pepparkakor (ginger biscuits) and lussekatter (saffron buns). Pepparkakor are not – I repeat not – gingerbread; instead they are thin ginger biscuits – a ginger snap if you will. You can either buy ready-made dough from the likes of Rosendal’s Garden, or make your own and create your biscuits using biscuit cutters shaped like stars, snowflakes, hearts etc. Some Swedes do then ice them afterwards – often using white icing.

Lussekatter are traditionally baked to celebrate St. Lucia Day on 13th December, but you’ll spot these saffron swirls of goodness in bakeries even before the first of Advent comes around. They are a sort-of sweet, sort-of savoury bun (obviously, Swedes love buns) typically shaped into an ‘s’ to look like a curled-up cat, with raisins for decoration to resemble the cat’s eyes.

Both of these are usually enjoyed together with glögg, a hot, spicy drink (no, it is NOT mulled wine) topped with blanched almonds and raisins (optional). You will likely find all three in almost all of our restaurants and cafés at Christmas time. At Hotel Hasselbacken you can enjoy a glass of glögg in their beautiful lobby every afternoon between 26th November and Christmas Day.

Speaking of Lucia, this is an extremely special celebration in Sweden. It’s known as the festival of light, and it’s filled with candles, carols and joy. The 13th December is traditionally the darkest night and the darkest morning, so the candlelight is meant to fend off the darkness and dark spirits. The main event is the Lucia procession, where girls and boys or women and men wear white robes and red sashes and hold candles and follow Lucia. The women also often wear garlands and the men white pointy hats. Lucia wears a candle crown, and together they sing Swedish hymns and Christmas carols. The Lucia celebrations take place in churches, town halls or even outside in the town or city’s main square. Pepparkakor, lussekatter and glögg also feature.

So what about the Christmas celebration (Julafton) itself? Well, for starters, the main celebration in Sweden is actually on the 24th (I know, shock horror). As with every other Swedish holiday celebration, it features schnapps, silly songs, good food and (hopefully) good company. It also involves watching the same Donald Duck (Kalle Anka) episode from the seventies at 3pm (no exceptions).

And of course, we need to talk about the food. The Swedish Christmas dinner is buffet-style (julbord), and again, like all other Swedish holidays, features boiled potatoes, salmon, meatballs, dill and several types of herring. It also makes way for two Christmas specials: the julskinka (Christmas ham – usually the centrepiece, served cold with a mustard and breadcrumb crust) and Janssons Frestelse (a potato gratin with onions and anchovies). Many restaurants start hosting their Julbord events from about mid-November, and here at Royal Djurgården you have plenty to choose from, including Junibacken, Oaxen Slip and Villa Källhagen.

This Christmas will of course be slightly different to normal, but if you’re visiting Royal Djurgården in the build-up to Christmas or even on Christmas itself, we hope you will experience and enjoy some of Sweden’s Christmas traditions. God Jul!

There is certainly something special about Djurgården in the autumn; there are lots of new exhibitions, plenty of fun activities for the whole family during the school break, and the nature is just magical.

But perhaps you need help planning your day? With so much to choose from, we’ve put together a handy guide for spending an autumn day here at Royal Djurgården!

Why not start your day with a walk in and amongst the beautiful autumn nature? One of our favourite routes is to start by going through the blue gate and then follow the path along the water’s edge, either stopping off at the wonderful Rosendal’s Garden or heading all the way to Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen (the Djurgården canal). This is one of the most peaceful and idyllic areas on the whole island, and definitely the place to go if you want to see all the beautiful coloured leaves that autumn brings. While you’re there, you can do some bird-watching at Isbladskärret or walk along Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s Lovers’ Path.

If you follow the island round to the right, you will reach the Thiel Gallery. Why not stop for a mid-morning fika at Café Monika Ahlberg, where you can sample delicious Swedish cakes and coffee? And if fashion’s your thing, you mustn’t miss the gallery’s latest exhibition: Augusta Lundin, the First Fashion House in Sweden.

If you want to combine coffee and cake with art, but perhaps would rather see the fairytale artwork of John Bauer, you can walk for another half hour to Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde and its café, Café Ektorpet, or hop on bus 67 and get off at Waldemarsudde.

Djurgården is a haven for art-lovers, so much so that four new exhibitions opened in one weekend in September! Choose between Hilding Linnqvist and Goodwin’s Beautiful Stockholm at Liljevalchs, Room to Move at the National Sports Museum and The Party is Over at the Museum of Spirits.

When it comes to lunch, there are so many options here at Royal Djurgården. Many of our restaurants serve traditional Swedish food like meatballs and salmon, and during the week restaurants like Sjöcaféet serve ‘Dagens lunch’, which is very typically Swedish (it’s a set price lunch menu that includes a main course, salad, bread, a drink and coffee – of course). Or if it’s the weekend, why not treat yourself to brunch at the Museum of Spirits or Oaxen Slip?

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding on an afternoon activity! If you’d like to explore more of the island’s greenery, you can hire a bike from Sjöcaféet. Or if it’s a boat tour you’re after, Ocean Bus and Strömma still run sightseeing tours in the autumn.

Then of course there are all our museums, where there really is something for everyone! If you’ve got the kids with you, Junibacken and The Museum of Science and Technology are dead certs for keeping them entertained all afternoon – Skansen is also a great option for all ages. During the school break (24th October-1st November), they are hosting lots of fun activities for all the family!

And if you don’t have time to fit everything in in one day? Well, you’ll just have to come back again another day!

If you’ve ever been on ‘The Vasa Tour‘, that means you’ll have been on the M/S Sylvia sightseeing boat. And now this historic passenger boat is emerging as a frontrunner in the transition towards a sustainable future, as Eco Sightseeing Stockholm AB and El & Marinteknik AB present the world’s first ‘Tesla second life’ all-electric passenger boat.

During 2019 and 2020, Eco Sightseeing Sthlm AB and El & Marinteknik have been working on making the M/S Sylvia boat all-electric by using ‘second life’ Tesla batteries. The goal is to be able to offer environmentally-conscious sightseeing and charter experiences for everyone.

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do here at Royal Djurgården, and we would like to thank Elias for leading the way. Here is some more information about the project:

Eco Sightseeing Sthlm AB

Eco Sightseeing Sthlm AB is a young company, with high ambitions for sustainable experiences out on the water. Elias Nilsson founded the company in 2019 with the aim of driving the development of a fossil-free Sweden. He was inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg and her thesis, ‘No one is too small to make a difference’.

“I wanted to accelerate the development of sustainable vessels in urban waters. In Stockholm there’s been talk of converting commercial vessels for many years and yet nothing has happened; so now is the time for action. What’s known today as a circular economy should be a matter of course; we should be making the most of the resources we have, by recycling or renovating them, rather than it being a case of ‘out with the old, in with the new”, says Elias.

In July this year, the Swedish government decided to develop a strategy for Sweden to switch to a circular economy.

Elias continues, ‘I think we’re going to see a lot of new environmental innovations in the near future. The challenges that the whole world is facing at the moment due to the pandemic is a reminder that the way we live and the choices we make have consequences. I hope that more shipowners will follow in our footsteps and take bigger steps in sustainability’.

The Ecosightseeing and El & Marinteknik partnership

Environmental technology, sustainability and circular economies were the cornerstones for Ecosightseeing and El & Marinteknik’s innovative partnership. Together, the two companies have carried out a unique conversion of the M/S Sylvia boat. The boat was originally powered by a traditional Perkins diesel engine, which has now been replaced with recycled Tesla batteries installed by El & Marinteknik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Installing the Tesla batteries

The Tesla batteries are recycled from the Tesla Model S, as they are no longer used in the cars (for various reasons). However, they still have the capacity for so-called ‘second life’ use. The batteries are installed and the 190kW h cells are used to power an 85kW electric motor. The cells are housed in specially-designed waterproof and gas-tight aluminium containers, which are stored in the boat’s underseat. The battery capacity allows for up to 14 hours of cruising before they need to be charged again. The electric propulsions create less noise, which makes for a more comfortable experience for the passengers and takes them closer to nature.

The M/S Sylvia is now continuing her journey into the future as the world’s first all-electric passenger boat powered by ‘second life’ Tesla batteries.

Ecosightseeing M/S Sylvia

The M/S Sylvia was originally built for the The Royal Navy back in 1943 and was involved in the Normandy landings in 1944. Today, the boat can hold up to 48 passengers, and its home port is at Strandvägen 19 in Stockholm.

The M/S Sylvia’s licensed bar, excellent audiovisual systems and passionate and committed crew onboard makes it one of Stockholm’s most treasured charter boats.

If you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en

The conversion of the M/S Sylvia to an all-electric boat contributes to reducing Stockholm’s noise emissions (11.2,6)

 

The conversion of the M/S Sylvia to an all-electric boat helps to reduce CO2 emissions (13.2)

Discover the nature at Djurgården! Take a long walk to see parts of Djurgården you’ve never been to before. There is still time to rent a bike and bring a picnic and enjoy the nature and wildlife. Djurgården is part of the Royal National City Park and it’s one of the biggest, greenest, coolest places to be!

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Take a long walk and aim for Folke Bernadotte’s bridge. It’s an easy way to get from Museiparken/The Museum Park on the north side of Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen to Rosendal on the south side. Rosendal’s Garden is worth a visit at any time of the year. There is a wonderful garden café, and if you want inspiration for your own garden, a visit to the plant shop is a must.

If you want to combine garden and art, we recommend visiting Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. Waldemarsudde covers an area of 70,000 square metres, surrounded on three sides by water, with rich and varied vegetation, rock formations, sandy areas, meadows and deciduous trees. The gardeners’ plantings are concentrated around the front side of the main house and gallery. The park has plenty of beautiful sculptures such as a copy of Nike of Samthrace and Auguste Rodin’s sculpture, The Thinker, all bought by Prince Eugen in the early 1900s.

RICH ANIMAL LIFE

Djurgården has a rich wildlife. There are over 800 types of flowering plants, 1200 species of beetle and 100 bird species in the Royal National City Park. There are also both well-known animals such as deer, foxes, hares and toads, and more unusual species to be found. Here are some more interesting facts about the wildlife in the Royal National City Park.

A great way to experience the nature of Djurgården is to walk along the Lover’s trail of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, which was inaugurated in 2012. The trail was a wedding gift to Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel from the Swedish World Wide Fond for Nature – WWF. The love trail is 390 metres long and extends along Djurgården’s south-western shore. Signs along the trail give information on plant and animal life in and around the small lake Isbladskärret.

At the open-air museum Skansen there are many animals to discover, from species common in Scandinavia, like bear and moose, to more exotic species like monkeys and polar bear. The open air museum covers a huge area as big as Stockholm’s Old Town, so there is room for all of us.

ROYAL PROMENADES

With the free app ‘Royal walks’, you can follow informative walks on historical and royal grounds at Djurgården. There are four routes to follow – Djurgården Buildings, Waterline Walk, Bernadotte Walk and Djurgården Art Walk. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, put on your crown and go for a walk!

MEMORIALS

Djurgården is a place for entertainment and has been so for hundreds of years. It’s a place where it’s easy to have fun together, hang out, learn and get inspiration. But Djurgården is also a place for reflection and a place to gather strength. Djurgården has been chosen as the place for several monumental memorials. Djurgården is centrally located yet very tranquil; it is spacious enough to give room for both body and soul. Why not take a memorial walk around the island? You can find all the memorials here – use the ‘Monuments, Flora & Fauna’ filter.

RENT A BIKE

Sjöcaféet is located at Strandvägen’s entrance to Djurgården, just after Djurgårdsbron. Coming into the fall season there is still time to rent a bike from Sjöcaféet and discover Djurgården. At Royal Djurgården Visitor Center, located in the same building, you can get help with tips on routes to take.

It’s almost time for Stockholm Pride 2020, which starts on Friday 31st July until Sunday 2nd August! This year, a lot of the celebrations are taking place online, but you can come and celebrate Pride all week here at Royal Djurgården. We’ve listed our tips below!

#LoveWins 🌈

BALTIC SEA SCIENCE CENTER

Did you know that the male pipefish carries and gives birth to the babies? During Pride Week (27th July-2nd August), you can learn all about love under the sea with a guided tour from one of the Science Center’s aquarists.

The tour is free and takes place at the aquarium in the Baltic Sea Science Center at 13:00 every day during Pride Week.

THE VIKING MUSEUM

Join The Viking Museum for an exciting, enlightening and funny tour through the Vikings’ attitude towards homosexuality and masculinity.

You can join a tour at 11:00, 13:00 or 15:00 on Thursday and Friday, and it is included in your entrance ticket.

ABBA THE MUSEUM

Celebrate love and go 2 for the price of 1! Bring a friend or a loved one and experience the story of ABBA.

The museum even has special Pride opening hours; it’s open until 18:30 on Saturday and from 11:00-16:30 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Buy your tickets here.

CIRKUS & POP HOUSE

This Saturday (19:00-20:45), Cirkus and Pop House are hosting the Nordics’ first ever Drag dinner! Get ready for an evening filled with humour, dance, spex and mischief, as well as the world-famous ‘Heel Race’ competition (who really goes best in high heels?) The evening’s Drag Queens will be Becky, Miss Listerine and “Man who imitates women”.

Click here to book a table and be part of what’s sure to be a fabulous evening, darling!

STOCKHOLM PRIDE PARADE

This year is extra special because Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria is opening the celebrations – the first time a national monarch has officiated a Pride festival.

You can follow the Stockholm Pride Parade via the Stockholm Pride website and their social media channels. The parade is taking place on Saturday 1st August 2020, 12:00-14:00.

Djurgården’s attractions mark and celebrate Stockholm Pride (10.2,)

 

If you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en

This summer is going to be a little bit different to normal, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun and exciting things happening at Royal Djurgården. In fact, we think Djurgården is one of the biggest, greenest and coolest places to be!

Are you going to come and join us this summer? If so, here are our top 8 things to do when you come to visit:

1. Enjoy a truly unique outdoor sculpture exhibition

All the way from Park Avenue in NYC, now you can see Alice Aycock’s ‘Turbulences’ sculpture exhibition here at Royal Djurgården. It’s the first to be arranged by the Princess Estelle Cultural Foundation, and Alice Aycock’s first solo exhibition in Scandinavia!⁠ You can find the six sculptures at at Djurgårdsbrunn Bay near the Folke Bernadottes bridge.

2. Relax in the green oasis that is Rosendal’s Garden

One of our favourite places to enjoy the summer (or any season, come to that) is Rosendal’s Garden. As well as enjoying the garden, you can come here for a meal or traditional Swedish ‘fika’, and visit their farm shop and plant shop. And until mid-August, you can enjoy food from their wood fired oven and drinks from their garden bar at the Herbarium. You certainly won’t believe you’re in the midst of a capital city!

3. Celebrate 75 years of the world’s strongest girl at Junibacken

Pippi Longstocking is a female icon worldwide, and turns 75 this year. At Junibacken‘s new exhibition, ‘Topsy Turvy with Pippi’, you can be part of Pippi’s fun and mischievous world; lift Pippi’s horse, fly a plane, snoop around the sweet shop, climb up the lemonade tree – plus much more!⁠ We recommend booking your ticket in advance to guarantee admission, which you can do here.

4. Discover Djurgården on wheels 

Cycling is one of the best ways to get around and see the island – did you know that southern Djurgården is 10km all the way around? You can pick up free cycle maps from Royal Djurgården Visitor Center and hire bikes from the adjoining Sjöcaféet.

5. Marvel at Nordiska museet’s new entrance

…and relax in their outdoor living room.

Nordiska museet‘s newly-renovated backyard now hosts a Nordic café, and is surrounded by topiary linden trees, espaliered fruit trees and a walnut tree.

A visit inside the museum itself is also a must; after all, its main exhibition, The Arctic – While the Ice is Melting, was nominated for Exhibition of the Year.

6. Soak up the sun with some al fresco dining

Many of our lovely cafés and restaurants boast beautiful garden settings and waterside views, so you can enjoy amazing food with a view to match. Even some of our museums have their own outdoor seating area, like the Museum of Spirits with their Seaside Dock and Garden Patio, which is open exclusively during the summer.

And right now, we are running a special restaurant collaboration on Djurgården, where when you bring your receipt and voucher from one of 20 Djurgården restaurants to another, you get 10% off the bill. In case you needed an excuse to try even more delicious food and drink!

7. Take a tour of the island’s art exhibitions 

Art has long since been a part of Royal Djurgården (dating way back to 1905, in fact). But not all exhibitions are around for so long! This summer, choose between Ulrica Hydman Vallien at Liljevalchs, Hidden Treasures from the Thiel Gallery Collection at the Thiel Gallery and Silent Beauty – Nordic and East Asian Interaction at Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. Take a look at our calendar to see all the exhibitions running at Royal Djurgården.

8. See beautiful Djurgården from the water

One of the best ways to explore Royal Djurgården is from the water, and you can rent a canoe, kayak or pedal boat from Sjöcaféet, which is just by the Djurgården bridge.

Fancy some sightseeing? Then why not test out Strömma’s Royal Canal Tour, which takes you along Djurgården’s beautiful and tranquil canal. And for something truly unique, Ocean Bus is an amphibious bus which lets you experience Stockholm from both land and water in one single vehicle.

On 11th July between 10:00 and 15:00, by the Maritime Museum, representatives from Djurgården’s attractions are taking action against littering with an underwater clean-up dive. We are working together with the Rena Botten foundation to take action against litter in our oceans. 

Just because we can’t see the rubbish, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. There is far too much rubbish in our oceans which we don’t see, but which affects our waters and the animals that live there.

“We all work together when it comes to sustainability at Djurgården, and a clean and tidy Djurgården is a matter of course. Last year we took it upon us to actively reduce littering. Through doing this underwater clean-up on Saturday, we want to show where so much rubbish ends up: in the Baltic Sea. It’s a small step, but still an important part of our journey to reduce littering. We hope that lots of people will come to the beach below the Maritime Museum to follow our work and see what we find”, says the Royal Djurgården Society’s CEO Camilla Zedendahl.

Saturday’s underwater clean-up dive will be our second together with Rena Botten, who have picked up tons of rubbish over the years. Together we will clean up Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, in the Museum Park below the Maritime Museum. There will be about ten of us taking part, including several representatives from Djurgården’s attractions.

The work towards a clean and tidy Djurgården is carried out by the Royal Djurgården Society, the Royal Djurgården Administration, the Maritime Museum, the Royal National City Park, Rena Botten and Håll Sverige Rent. Håll Sverige Rent (‘Keep Sweden Clean’) is a foundation on a mission to achieve ‘No littering’.

If you’d like to know more about the underwater clean-up dive, or even sign up, contact Camilla Zedendahl on camilla.zedendahl@royaldjurgarden.se or +46 (0)709 906973.

Would you like to know more about Rena Botten and/or get involved? Take a look at their Facebook page.

Djurgården works with other organisations to combat litter (17.17)

 

Through underwater clean-ups, Djurgården reduces the number of pollutants in the Baltic Sea (14.1)

 

If you want to read more about our work on sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en  

From 1st July, you will be able to start your visit to Nordiska museet via a new entrance! As well as the main entrance, the ‘Two Directions’ entrance is located in the backyard, which was closed previously. It was designed by Finnish artist Outi Pieski and inspired by objects from the museum’s Sami collections. Through ‘Two Directions’, an important part of Nordic and Sami culture has been given permanent visibility in the museum building.

‘Two Directions/Guokte Bálga’ was commissioned by Nordiska museet and Sweden’s Public Art Agency. The artwork is part of the building and made up of several parts in and around the new western entrance. Two of these can be found along the protruding glass section of the entrance building and along the beams, in different patterns made of weathering steel. The patterns create a play of light and shadow, which alters with the time of day and the changing of the seasons.

“The old Sami decorative tradition is a language in which every individual element is its own word. Together we are putting together an ornate story of Sami philosophy, cosmology and life. The artwork reflects the museum’s collections, which include objects from several different Sami regions. The wall’s decoration draws inspiration from the southern Sami decorative ribbons, whose diagonal structure is an expression of flexibility and community, while the vertical/horizontal structure stands for stability”, says Outi Pieski.

The pattern design for Two Directions is inspired by a decorated spoon made of elk antler. Within Sami culture, the spoon is a very personal item. The carvings signs and patterns on the spoon bear cultural heritage and identity, as well as magic and mythology.

“Two Directions is a conscious, contemporary addition to our iconic museum building, which is highly decorated with sculptures and engravings which represent Nordic history and mythology. For us, therefore, it is important that any updates to the museum building are done in a cautious, contemporary and respectful way. With her artwork, Outi Pieski brings Nordic cultural heritage to the fore and broadens attitudes and perspectives”, says Sanne Houby-Nielsen, Director of Nordiska museet.

The Curator of Sweden’s Public Art Agency, Peter Hagdahl, echoes these sentiments: “In ‘Two Directions’, Outi Pieski combines her experience and knowledge of the Sami culture in a deeply idiosyncratic and poetic way”.

The new entrance is located on the museum’s ground floor and is an important part of the museum’s long-term work to improve the museum’s accessibility. By creating a new way into the museum, areas that were previously closed are now open for new learning experiences. The extension of the building was designed by the architect Lone-Pia Bach. As you make your way further through the entrance, you can see the newly-acquired film ‘Birds in the Earth’ by the Finnish artist Marja Helander.

If you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en .

Two Directions increases the visibility of Nordic and Sami culture (10.2)

 

The new entrance is an important part of Nordiska museet’s accessibility work (11.3)

The summer of 2020 is going to be different, at Djurgården as everywhere else. In an ordinary summer, thousands of visitors come to experience music at Djurgården. But this year it’s not quite the same, as most concerts have been cancelled due to current regulations. Other events have been adapted to the current situation and are still taking place – just in new, creative ways. It’s worth checking with the event organiser for the latest information.

Even so, our calendar is filled with information on events, ongoing exhibitions and guided tours. In addition, there are tips on virtual guided tours and museum experiences for those unable to visit Djurgården. You can use the calendar category filter to find events that you might be interested in.

CALENDAR

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Royal Djurgården is an important part of the Royal National City Park, which, on 19th May 2020, celebrates its 25th anniversary. 

As part of the celebrations, we wanted to tell you a bit more about the Park. Here are 9 fun facts that you might not know about the Royal National City Park!

1. The Royal National Park is the world’s first National City Park.

2. There are over 800 types of flowering plants, 1200 species of beetle and 100 bird species in the Park.

3. You may stumble across paving stones which, based on their appearance and location, are deemed to be from 550 BC.

4. Southern Djurgården used to be called ‘Valmundsö’, and the king exchanged it with the Archbishop of Uppsala. Anyone who wanted to lease Valmundsö could do so for a payment of 15 pounds or 60 barrels of barley.

5. The Prince Eugen oak, which you can find at Waldemarsudde, has a perimeter of 842cm and is estimated to be 500-800 years old, making it the largest and oldest oak in the Royal National City Park.

6. ¾ of all of Uppland’s plants and animals can be found in the Park.

7. Traces of royalty include Karl XI’s fishing cabin at Djurgården, and the palaces at Rosendal, Ulriksdal and Haga.

8. The Royal National City Park is Stockholm’s and Sweden’s most visited greenspace.

9. The park is always open for you to come and visit: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round!

In these troubling times we like to think of Royal Djurgården as a place of relaxation and tranquility — somewhere that you might like to escape to when you need some space, peace and quiet. We believe this is still the case — perhaps even more so than usual — at this time.

You can still visit the majority of our restaurants, and many of them offer outdoor seating and/or takeaway options. So you can enjoy some delicious food and drink in and amongst nature, or if you prefer, in the comfort of your own home. Why not also take a walk along the waterfront or through a park, or pay a visit to some of our monuments?

Some of the attractions here at Royal Djurgården have remained open, and many more are starting to open up again. We recommend checking the individual websites of our attractions for information regarding specific events and opening hours.

And did you know that you can still visit Djurgården from home? Here you can join in with some fun activities and experience lots of our museums from your own living room.

Protecting our visitors is of course our main priority; we are continuously following all updates surrounding the Corona (COVID-19) outbreak, as well as guidelines and decisions from the authorities and Swedish government. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels, where we will keep you up to date with what’s going on.

Keep taking care of yourselves and one another!

In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, Tekniska museet is unveiling its new exhibition. It poses a highly relevant question: Who is the human of the future? Following the success of the Robots exhibition, which showcased human-like robots, this amazing self-produced exhibition focuses on the technology in humans. With the help of art, ethical reasoning, the latest technology and the extensive knowledge gathered at Tekniska Museet, you can now be part of an exhibition that we hope everyone can connect with — even  in the current circumstances. It is certainly a time to reflect on where we are going and what the future human is going to be like.

What happens when technology makes it possible for us to design our children using genome editing? Where is the distinction between man and machine when we are able to enhance and replace body parts? Who is in control when we allow artificial intelligence to make decisions in crucial life choices? This is your chance to explore these questions and more.

With an immersive experience that arouses curiosity, poses questions and fascinates, the Hyper Human exhibition illustrates some of the challenges that we face as a result of technological developments. But above all it inspires a sense of hope and engagement in questions concerning how technology can make it possible for a greater number of people to have a greater quality of life.

“The ever accelerating process of technology requires us to stop and have the opportunity to reflect and understand” says Magdalena Tafvelin Heldner, who is the Project Manager at Tekniska museet. “We all need to be involved in deciding what we want our future to look like. It is not just about what is technically possible, but also what is ethical,  based on, for example, equality, sustainability and justice.”

In addition to the exhibition, Tekniska museet also houses one of Sweden’s leading designers, Monica Förster, and her design studio. Together with the innovation agency BAS ITG, she has let artificial intelligence influence the design — a meeting between man and machine that produces both surprising and interesting results.

Hyper Human combines a historical perspective with an analysis of the present and thoughts on the future. It features a musculature model from the 1700s, prosthetic eyes from the 1800s, intelligent supercomputers from the 1980s, and visions of the future drawn from both popular culture and science.

During your time in the exhibition, you as the visitor will be challenged by a range of different ethical questions, where there are consequences to every response.

Read about how Tekniska Museet is handling COVID-19 here.

And if you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en

The exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on ethical issues like equality and sustainability in relation to technological developments (10.3)

Swedes might say they love winter, but when the days start getting longer and lighter, it’s a sure sign that our beloved summer is on its way.  

Spring is a time, therefore, when we start to feel positive and inspired. Royal Djurgården is a green oasis, so for Stockholmers and visitors alike, it is the place to experience the beautiful greenery and flowers that blossom as spring begins. It is also home to lots of exciting art exhibitions, many of which are hosted in museums and galleries that are surrounded by nature. This means that you can experience beautiful art, both inside and outside!

Here is a selection of exhibitions that are ongoing throughout the spring, here on Royal Djurgården: 

Angus Fairhurst Absolut Art Collection

The Museum of Spirits
23rd October 2019-13th April 2020

Angus Fairhurst (1966-2008) belonged to an influential generation that became the phenomenon known as the Young British Artists, or YBAs. As a group, they fought against the market-driven attitude of the 1990s. Fairhurst was a central figure, expressing himself with brilliant, absurd, somewhat melancholy humour. His work has been described as a labyrinth of references to Western art history, but it is equally an exploration of the dubious ideals of advertising and luxury consumerism. Spritmuseum’s own Absolut Art Collection includes Absolut Fairhurst from 1994.

Find out more about the exhibition here

The Experimental Self: Edvard Munch’s Photography

The Thiel Gallery
8th February-31st May 2020 

Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was one of the first artists to take “selfies.” He pursued photography as an experimental medium and himself as an experimental subject. He explored the dynamics of layered imagery; unexpected areas of blank, disunified, or undefined form; and shadows that replace living bodies. The exhibition gives you an insight into this lesser-known side of the artist. 

Find out more about the exhibition here

Silent Beauty – Nordic and East Asian Interaction

Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde
15th February-31st May 2020 

Silent Beauty – Nordic and East Asian Interaction is a fusion of Nordic and East Asian aesthetics from the 1900s, with a special focus on the years following the Second World War. The exhibition features paintings, graphics, ceramics and textiles by Japanese, Swedish and Finnish artists. Geometric shapes, refined colours and fabrics and textures are recurrent characteristics amongst the works on display.⁠ 

Find out more about the exhibition here

Lena Cronqvist

Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde
7th March-27th September 2020 

With a career spanning nearly 60 years, Lena Cronqvist has established herself as one of Sweden’s most prominent artists. Her imagery embraces existential themes, such as love, childhood, motherhood, loneliness and death, and she often uses herself as a model. Cronqvist’s artistic practice is profoundly personal, yet equally inclusive and universal. This thematic exhibition includes several recent paintings that are being exhibited publicly for the first time. 

Find out more about the exhibition here

Market Art Fair 2020

Liljevalchs
24th April-26th April 2020

Market Art Fair is the leading contemporary art fair in the Nordic region, initiated in 2006 by galleries representing the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. During the fair, selected galleries showcase an exclusive selection of the most interesting art on the Nordic scene, focusing on solo projects as well as carefully curated presentations.

Find out more about the exhibition here

The Arctic – While the Ice is Melting, Nordiska museet‘s own exhibition, opened in October last year. And now the highly acclaimed exhibition has been nominated for Exhibition of the Year 2019!

Nordiska museet is up against two other finalists: the Skate exhibition at The Regional Museum of Kristianstad and the Hjärnrummet exhibition at the Vattenhallen Science Center at Lund University. Those of us who have visited The Arctic – While the Ice is Melting are keeping our fingers crossed that the winner will be from Royal Djurgården.

The winner will be announced at the Swedish Museums Association’s Spring Meeting in Visby in April. Make sure to keep an eye out on our website and social media channels to see if Nordiska museet takes the crown.

And if you haven’t had a chance to visit the exhibition yet, well then what are you waiting for?

The exhibition highlights how climate change is affecting the Arctic, nature, humans and animals. Visitors are given the opportunity to make a climate promise (13.3)

Djurgården is an important part of the world’s first National City Park: The Royal National City Park. The area is a truly unique historical landscape, interwoven with parks, beautiful buildings, woods and forests, open land and beaches. And now it is the Royal National City Park’s 25^th anniversary.

In the 1990s, the park became under threat from overexploitation. A combination of local authorities, non-profit organisations and the Swedish Parliament decided, therefore, that an area with such natural, cultural and recreational value needed to be protected. And in 1995, the Royal National City Park was born.

Today, the Royal National City Park is Sweden’s most visited greenspace, and it is home to a very rich plant and animal life – about three quarters of Uppland’s plants and animals are found there. The Royal National City Park is also home to the highest collection of large oak trees in northern Europe. Here on southern Djurgården you will find, among others, the Prince Eugen oak, which is considered the largest living oak tree in Stockholm.

The park provides clean air and dampens noise, and is a place where locals can come to relax and recuperate. The Royal National City Park also has significant cultural value, with beautiful houses, buildings, interesting museums, amusement parks, theatre and entertainment venues and palaces. One of these palaces can be found here on southern Djurgården: the Rosendal Palace.

This year we are excited and honoured to be congratulating the Royal National City Park and everyone who is a part of it on its 25th birthday.

There are many activities taking place as part of the celebrations, including guided tours, lectures, a photo exhibition at Nybroviken, and various activities throughout the park. You can find out about the events taking place on southern Djurgården in the calendar on our website, under the ’Royal National City Park 25 year anniversary’ category. Further information can be found at nationalstadsparken.se.

We hope you will come and explore our amazing park soon!

Congratulations to Oaxen Krog & Slip who have not only retained their two Michelin stars, but were also awarded a special prize at the Michelin Guide ceremony in Trondheim, Norway.

Sustainability is becoming a big part of our lives, especially here in the Nordic countries where many people recognise sustainability as a way of life. Nordic chefs are also leading the way when it comes to focusing on locally-produced ingredients, setting the standard for the rest of the world to follow. In addition to the Michelin Stars that were awarded at the ceremony, a new symbol was launched: a green clover, given to restaurants that promote ‘sustainable gastronomy’.

We are happy and proud, but not surprised, that Oaxen Krog & Slip at Royal Djurgården has been awarded one of the first sustainability awards. Magnus Ek, who runs Oaxen Krog & Slip, has been involved in sustainability for many years. Together with his restaurant colleagues, they have addressed all aspects of sustainability; everything from animal welfare and farming and agricultural methods to working conditions and employee well-being.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that Oaxen Krog & Slip took home this prestigious award. Congratulations again and keep up the amazing work!

If you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en

Oaxen received an award for its sustainable food production (12.2,3,5)

 

Oaxen’s way of working ensures a safe and secure working environment and contributes to a prosperous and sustainable hospitality industry (8.8,9)

Here at Royal Djurgården there are lots of exciting activities happening during February half term, such as family shows, art workshops, experiment shows and even an ice-skating disco! To help you plan your visit to Djurgården, we’ve put together lots of ideas for fun half-term activities for the whole family.

Junibacken is already a firm favourite amongst children (so much so that it was actually voted the best museum for children by Stockholmers in a recent survey). The attraction brings stories to life – including Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking – and right now children can also become detectives themselves and explore the world of private detective Ture Sventon!

Children can also pretend to be Vikings at The Viking Museum, immerse themselves in the world of pirates at the Maritime Museum or see what it’s like to be a forensic science technician at the Police Museum.

This week at The Museum of Ethnography it’s a Carnival theme! Children can make carnival hats, masks, jewellery and decorations using colourful materials. The family trail at the Vasa Museum is something for the whole family, and at Tekniska Museet you can participate in VR games, film workshops, experiment shows and much more.

There’s also the chance to try out winter sports and go to an ice-skating disco – amongst other activities – at Skansen. Why not visit SportLab at the National Sports Museum, where you can experience how different movements feel, or participate in this year’s “Hasalopp” at Nordiska Museet?

As you can see, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to half term activities at Djurgården!