Removals to Stockholm with The Moving Partnership
While it’s sometimes called the ‘Venice of the North’, as it’s a city surrounded by water, Stockholm is much more than just a tourist attraction. Sweden’s capital city is one of the cleanest and most attractive places to move to both for people moving domestically within Sweden and those moving from overseas, with a thriving economy.
Here The Moving Partnership, who offer removals to Stockholm, take a closer look at a city which is made up of no fewer than 14 different islands (and a lot of interconnecting bridges).
The History and Heritage
Although there was some form of settlement there prior to the last ice age, when the temperatures dropped settlers moved from the Stockholm area further south. Only when temperatures increased did the population return, thousands of years later.
The first mention of the name of Stockholm was in 1252; many believe it was officially recognised and founded by the country’s then ruler Birger Jarl. Its coastal location meant it was vital to trade in northern Europe.
In the 17th century, a large fire destroyed a substantial portion of the city and its bridges; and in 1710 a plague killed 20,000 residents (around a third of the population at the time). However, the city recovered over time – stone buildings replaced the old wooden houses, and industrialisation in the 19th century heralded a new period of growth.
Today, Stockholm is the base for much of Sweden’s financial sector; technology start-ups and foreign trade are also essential for the city’s economy. Other major industries in the city include paper and printing, foodstuffs and chemical manufacturing.
Getting There and Getting Around
The Stockholm-Arlanda airport, commonly known as Arlanda, is 25 miles to the north of the city centre, in the Sigtuna municipality. It offers flights to almost 150 destinations in 41 countries (mostly in Europe); Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are the UK ports of call.
From the airport, you can get into the city by express bus, express rail or regular rail services. And, in spite of the city being spread out over 14 islands, not only can you get around by coach, tram or bus, but there is a metro network as well with 100 stations – the Tunnelbana or T-bana.
Another way into the city is over the water – there are regular ferry services within the city, and to neighbouring countries. Most larger cruise ships dock at Stadsgarden on the island of Sodermalm.
Stockholm is ranked as one of the cleanest cities in the world, so it should come as no surprise that it also has an extensive network of cycle paths, which are particularly busy in summer.
The Main Attractions
Stockholm’s modern city centre is located in the northern district of Norrmalm – the shopping, business and financial centre. The Old Town, or Gamla Stan, is split between the Stads, Helgeands and Riddar Islands. This area is home to the Swedish Parliament, as well as the Royal Palace (part of which is open to the public) and the Royal Swedish Opera the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
There are also plenty of museums. Skansen open-air museum, on the island of Djurgarden, is also home to Stockholm Zoo. The Nationalmuseum, on the Blasieholmen peninsula, is a more conventional museum. And, for something more contemporary, try the Abba Museum, also on Djurgarden, which tells you all about the 1970s pop supergroup (and yes, there is a karaoke section!).
Shopping Around and Eating Out
If you want to go shopping, Köpmangatan, in the Old Town, is the city’s oldest street and is the place to go to for smaller, independent purchases. The main shopping street, however, is Drottninggatan in the Norrmalm district – it’s fully pedestrianised and has all the big names, including a huge Ahlens department store.
Favourite local dishes include pickled herring (often eaten on special occasions such as Christmas or Easter) and Kroppkakor (boiled potato dumplings filled with onions, pork or vegetarian options). Be aware, though, that eating out and food generally can be fairly expensive in Sweden.
Removals to Stockholm with The Moving Partnership
At The Moving Partnership we have many years of experience in domestic and commercial removals to Sweden, including Gothenburg, Malmo, Uppsala – in fact all of the country’s major towns and cities.
We can ship your items there through a full container load, a groupage or part-load (where you share the container with other movers), or via air freight – this last method is good for any smaller items such as clothing and valuables. We can also offer optional extras such as packing and unpacking, so you don’t have so much to think about; and insurance so you are covered in the unlikely event of something going wrong.
Whatever you want (or don’t want) is up to you – we will come up with a competitive quote which meets your exact needs. Follow this link for a free online moving quote; you can also call us on 0800 772 3709.
