Stockholm

The Swedish Regent Birger Jarl is said to have founded Stockholm in 1252. He built the necessary fortifications of the city on the island which is now called the Old Town, Gamla stan. The name Stockholm was mentioned for the first time that same year, in a letter written by King Birger Jarl.

Thanks to its strategic location between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, Stockholm soon became the most important commercial city of the region. In the middle of the fifteenth century Stockholm had 5000-6000 inhabitants. The city wall was gradually moved to make room for new residential quarters and Stockholm started to take on the appearance of a city.

Mayor

Mr Sten Nordin City Hall Ragnar Östbergsplan 1 103 35 Stockholm Sweden + 46 8 508 29 259 + 46 8 508 29 997 http://www.stockholm.se/