Estonians in Sweden

03.05.2010

Unlike the coastal Swedes, who lived on the Estonian Islands and on the west coast for centuries, the significant Estonian communities in Sweden were established in the 20th century. However, Estonians have travelled throughout Sweden and taken up residence there for centuries.

The 20th century cardinally changed this situation. If pre-World War II, only a few hundred Estonians lived in Sweden, then Estonians fleeing the war in 1943-1944 swelled the number to some 20,000 after the war. With the birth of new generations in the 1950s and 1960s this figure rose to 30,000. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of thousands of refugees from Estonia to Swedish coast the Freedom Gate was erected to Stockholm in 1994. Estonians and coastal Swedes organised several events in the spring and summer of 2004 commemorating the 60th anniversary of the escape from the Soviets.

Presently, more than 10,000 Estonians live in Sweden, and most of them have located in the larger cities or their suburban neighbourhoods – 4,000 in Stockholm, 2,000 in Gothenburg.

From the post-war years onward, the Estonian community successfully integrated into the Swedish community. The Estonian community also worked actively to preserve its national heritage and to raise awareness about Estonia through its many associations, societies and unions (the Estonian Committee, the Union of Estonians in Sweden, the Estonian Culture Society etc). During the peak period, some 400-500 Estonian organizations had been active in Sweden. Today approximately 100 are still functioning. Also, many Estonian language periodicals are published – as the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht and the journal Rahvuslik Kontakt. In Stockholm, there is an Estonian nursery school and an Estonian elementary school. In Gothenburg, Estonians are planning to re-open its school alongside the Estonian nursery school.

Estonian Houses function as important centres for preserving and developing the Estonian heritage in Sweden.

Here you can find information about some of the Estonians' organisations:

STOCKHOLM

Estonian School in Stockholm (in Swedish and Estonian)

Estonian Scientific Association in Sweden (in Swedish and Estonian)

Club Estetica (in Estonian)

The Association of Estonian Architects in Sweden (in Swedish)

The Estonian National Congress in Sweden

The Institute of Estonian Language and Literature (in Swedish)

Estonian Golf Association in Sweden (in Estonian)

UPPSALA

Estonian organisations in Uppsala (in Estonian and Swedish)