Helsinki

In 1550, the Swedish King Gustavus Wasa founded Helsinki to challenge Tallinn and the Hanseatic Baltic cities in the trade on the Baltic Rim. Helsinki did not grow as expected. The strengthening of Russia in the 1700s and the foundation of the new capital St.Petersburg near the Finnish border had a significant impact on Helsinki’s growth.
Finland was incorporated into the Russian Empire as an autonomous Grand Duchy in 1809. Helsinki’s journey as Finland’s capital started in 1812, when Tsar Alexander I promoted Helsinki to the status of capital city. A small town with a few thousand inhabitants was developed into an elegant administrative centre and a university and garrison city. The German Architect Carl Ludwig Engel was commissioned to design the new capital. The Empire style inner city created by him is still the object of our pride.
Today Helsinki is the engine of Finland’s economy and an administrative and cultural centre. Helsinki’s fortes are its favourable location in the Baltic Sea growth area, top class know-how, the focal role as the centre of traffic and logistics, as well as safety and numerous parks and greenbelt areas.

Mayor

Mr Jussi Pajunen P.O.Box 1 FI-00099 City of Helsinki Finland jussi.pajunen@hel.fi +358 9 310 36000 + 358 9 310 36052 http://www.hel.fi/english