History of Stockholm

(Stockholms historia)

1150-1252: Stockholm starts to be a city

(År 1150-1252: Stockholm börjar bli en stad)

The little island later referred to as the Old City is like a plug between Lake Mälaren and the sea. The island serves as a harbour where vessels carrying iron and copper from Lake Mälaren can dock. Vessels arrive by sea from Europe with salt, spices, wine and other wares that Sweden doesn’t have. A defensive tower is built on the island’s highest spot. The size of Stockholm’s population is unknown.

Medieval Stockholm

(Medeltidens Stockholm)

More and more buildings are built as trading and shipping attract cobblers, bakers, tailors and other artisans. Walls are built around the city and the Tre Kronor castle is built around the tower. Sweden is Catholic and a number of churches are erected in Stockholm. Bykyrkan (later Storkyrkan) is built, as well as Klara kyrka and other abbeys.

A number of wars are fought, usually against the Danes. In 1477, the Swedes defeat a Danish army at the Battle of Brunkeberg. The Danes take over Sweden in 1520, after which the Danish king Kristian II eliminates Sweden’s most powerful men during the Stockholm bloodbath at Stortorget. Sweden becomes Lutheran in the 1530s. Stockholm has approximately 9,000 inhabitants in 1590.

17th century: Stockholm turns into a genuine capital

(1600-talet: Stockholm blir en riktig huvudstad)

Sweden has become a great power through war, and money is available to turn little Stockholm into a bigger city. Many wooden houses are moved or torn down. The nobility builds palaces and the city’s winding streets are straightened out. Drottninggatan, Regeringsgatan and other streets are constructed. Queen Kristina reigns from 1650 to 1654. The first lock is built at Slussen with the assistance of the Netherlands.

People from the rural areas of Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries move to Stockholm. The city also has soldiers ready to embark on European adventures and artisans with the skills required to build the new palaces. The city grows rapidly. More people move to Norrmalm, Södermalm and Kungsholmen. The old Tre Kronor castle burns down in 1697. The population jumps to approximately 45,000 in 1670.

18th century

(1700-talet)

Wars are no longer as successful and Sweden is poorer than it once was. Construction of the new castle, designed by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, begins in 1723. After completion in 1754, artists are summoned from Italy, Germany and France to decorate it. Many of them remain in Stockholm and cultural life flourishes. Christopher Polhem builds a new lock. Carl Michael Bellman writes songs and describes Stockholm life so vividly that they would still be sung 250 years later. King Gustav III is shot to death at a masquerade ball in 1792. Stockholm has approximately 72,000 inhabitants in 1790.

19th century

(1800-talet)

A series of cholera epidemics claim many lives. Cholera graveyards would still be visible 150 years later at Gullmarsplan and other places. Water lines are built in the 1860s, and infant mortality begins to decline as water becomes cleaner. A new lock is constructed in the middle of the century. More and more factories and mechanical workshops are built in the city centre towards the end of the century. Many people move to Stockholm from the rural areas, and trains and steamboats facilitate travel. Old buildings are torn down once more, to be replaced by tall brick structures. Wealthy families live in large flats, but overcrowding is the norm. A typical household consists of eight people in one room and a kitchen. Sofia Skola, Matteus, Gustav Vasa and other schools are built, and six-year elementary education becomes mandatory in 1852. The city grows faster than ever before. Stockholm has approximately 200,000 inhabitants in 1880.

20th century

(1900-talet)

World War I spawns food shortages in Stockholm. Women are arrested in 1914 following hunger riots against a potato merchant. Cabbage is grown in the parks instead of flowers. The city hall opens in 1923. Women’s suffrage becomes law in 1925. Parks are built in the 1930s, and playground activities for children start. Stockholmshem, Svenska Bostäder and other municipal housing corporations are founded to provide flats and reduce overcrowding. The suburbs begin to expand.

Geriatric care, child health centres, child care and nursery schools become more widespread, and Stockholm South General Hospital, Karolinksa Hospital and Capio S:t Göran’s Hospital are built. Traffic increases, and tram lines, bus systems, the underground, roads and parking lots expand. A new lock is built in 1935 to accommodate more vehicles. The Klara district of the city centre is torn down in the 1960s and 1970s, to be replaced by Hötorget, Sergels Torg and new buildings. The city council buys and develops land. Skärholmen, Tensta Rinkeby and Husby belong to Stockholm now. More and more people emigrate from various countries, and many settle down in the suburbs. Prime Minister Olof Palme is assassinated on Sveavägen in 1986.

21st century

(2000-talet)

A new lock is in the works. Private owners take over many nursery schools, compulsory schools and district health centres from the municipalities. Old industrial areas are torn down to make room for new housing. Hammarby Sjöstad and other districts are built. Trams, which had disappeared in the 1960s, return as an environmentally friend alternative to cars.