Marcel Burger - Third time's the charm

The west entrance of Skansen, September 2025

Opened in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, Skansen on Stockholm's green island of Djurgården is the world's oldest open-air museum. Hazelius wanted to show Sweden before the industrialisation, and under his leadership the museum started to collect historic architecture from all over the country. After that, the name Skansen was borrowed for many other open-air museums in Central and Eastern Europe. E.g. it is a common name for a historic open-air museum in Poland.

More than 130 years after the start, Skansen (www.skansen.se) has grown into Sweden's most popular museum, with about 1.4 million visitors annually in the past three years. It has become more than just a collection of buildings, as Nordic wildlife can be seen up close as well. And Skansen is the stage of the biggest national sing along event during summer, aired on Swedish TV, with the stage high up the hill overlooking the lower parts of Central Stockholm.

The photos of this story are from my most recent trip to Skansen, in September 2025.

Ekshäradsgården, the estate house from Norra Skoga, in the Ekshärads area of the Värmland region, from the 1820s. Located at Skansen since 1953.

Around the year 1800, soldiers lived in this cabin in Säldefall, in the Kalmar Region. It was moved to Skansen in 1905, and rebuild in 1920.

The Seglora Church, built between 1729 and 1780 in Seglora, Marks härad, Västergötland region. Moved to Skansen in 1916.

The Torslunda Mill (Torslundakvarnen) from the island of Öland, moved to Skansen in 1922.

Linberedningsverket, the factory that turned flax into linen—or did at least part of the process—with water power. From the beginning of the 1800s from Nansta, Forsa area of Hälsingland. Moved to Skansen in 1918.

Folkets Hus, the local community centre. Buildings similar to this one in the 1950s style can still be found all over Sweden. This particular building comes from the Ransäter area in Värmland.

A windmill of the "holkkvarn" type from 1828. It was originally located near Främmestads, Västergötland.

Life of the 1800s meets 2025.

Washing board.

Explaining how things worked.

A lady in character of the 1800s with a basket on her arm.

Hand work at a fireplace.

Hanging out to dry.

Bredablick, the 30-metre tall view tower that was built here in 1876, and was bought by Skansen founder Artur Hazelius.

The Bragahallen of 1897 by architect Carl Westman.

The Seglora church tower.

A grave stone at the church cemetary.

Gathering, 1800s style.

Vastveitloftet, Skansen's only non-Swedish building. It dates back to the 1300s. The so-called Loftsboden was decorated in 1700s. The building's original location was the Telemark region in Norway.

The book bindery and other artisan workshop homes.

Part of a 17th Century wooden building with inner courrt, originally located at Drottninggatan in Stockholm. It holds the recreation of a 17th Century pharmacy and a modern café.

Stora Gungan was in 1725 a place where one could trade goods for money, on the Enskede estate south of Stockholm. In 1969 it was gifted to the city of Stockholm, when new construction was about to commence on the lands where it stood. It was moved to Skansen and rose again in 1976. It currently serves as a bar and restaurant.

The city quarter of Skansen.

Inside the city quarter of Skansen.

The logo of Shell on a partly rusty oil drum.

Inside the city quarter.

Bags and a barrel.

A "city street" of Skansen.

A tea house, in Swedish: lusthus.

Typical small food gardens and cabins one can still find all over Sweden.

View at Stockholm Östermalm high up from Skansen, September 2025.

Nordic wildlife

Although clearly not walking the wild side, the 45 species of wild and tame animals at Skansen do offer the visitors a quick glimpse in what one might encounter roaming through the Scandinavian nature.