Amsterdam

Over the centuries cosmopolitan Amsterdam has had a magical attraction for people all over the world.

The centre of the city is the Dam square, named so in honour of the first dike built by Amsterdammers in the XIII century. The dike protected the recently founded settlement Amstelledamme against both enemies and the turbulent sea. Time passed and the small village grew into Amsterdam.

Hardly anyone knows that Amsterdam is built on pilings.

Flowing out from the Dam are dozens of winding streets with rows of stalls, museums, charming cafes and elegant restaurants. The historic centre of the city is so compact that all the main sights lie within walking distance from each other.

Amsterdam is stripped with canals. Drifting on a boat along the canals you have a brilliant chance of admiring narrow quays, toyish houses with gabled roofs and red-white-brownish facades – the witnesses of the Netherlands "Golden Age".

Amsterdammers don’t live only along the canals, they also live on them. There are about 1,500 officially registered drifting dwellings in Amsterdam.

Finland

Finland is one of the world’s most northern countries and is subject to a severe climate. Its area is 130,559 square miles. About one third of the territory of Finland lies north of the Arctic Circle.

Modern Finland is an advanced industrialized society with a living standard among the highest in the world. Thanks to its geographical location between East and West, Finland has developed a unique culture in such areas as architecture, music and design.

Finland is a parliamentary republic with a president elected every six years. The religious orientation of the Finns is by tradition homogenous: approx. 90% of the population belong to the Lutheran Church and 1,3 % to the Greek Orthodox Church.

In Finland you can explore one of the last great unspoiled wilderness areas of Europe. The country is covered by green forests and 200,000 sparkingly blue lakes. Here one breathes some of the cleanest air on earth and encounters peacefulness that can soothe anyone’s city soul. Here you have a well-preserved environment – both physically and mentally.

In the far north in Finland, above the Arctic Circle, you find the area of Lapland.

Helsinki

The capital of Finland is Helsinki. Originally built on a peninsula, Helsinki has a beautiful location which creates a lovely seaside atmosphere throughout the downtown area. One of the many historical names for Helsinki, the Daughter of the Baltic, is therefore most suitable.

The charming capital of Finland has served as a proud host for a number of diplomatic summit meetings between important statesmen as well as a site for innumerable conferences.

The city is a compact, clean and yet lively metropolis where old and new mix in an unmistakably Nordic way. With its less than a million inhabitants, it is a human sized and people-oriented city that is manageable, friendly and safe for a visitor. The Finns themselves may still be the best characteristics of Helsinki in spite of their famous shyness. They are super hosts offering you gracious hospitality and serving you with traditional, genuine friendliness and care.

Turku is the former capital of Finland.