New Exhibition About Coastal Swedes at the Estonia National Museum

Text Susanna Poikela

Photo J. Sarapuu

A new exhibition titled “Rannarootslased. Estlandssvenskar. Estonia-Swedes” has opened at the Estonian National Museum. It is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition to date, focusing on the cultural heritage and stages of coastal Estonian Swedes from the 20th century to the present day.

The Estonian Swedes have inhabited the western coast of Estonia and its islands for centuries. According to written sources, at least since the 13th century. The curator of the exhibition, Kristel Rattus, emphasises that the coastal Swedish culture developed at the same pace as the rest of Estonia. A major change occurred during World War II, when a large number of Estonian Swedes fled to Sweden.

“This event is often seen as the disappearance of the Estonian–Swedish settlement and culture from Estonia, as if the culture had ceased to exist,” says Rattus. Many did assimilate into the mainstream population after the war, but the memories still carried forward, and today there are descendants of Estonian–Swedish people living both in Estonia and Sweden. For many, their roots come as a surprise, and sometimes they are only revealed through genealogy research. Fortunately, there are still those who want to cherish and develop the Estonian–Swedish cultural heritage by organising community days and song and dance festivals in Western Estonia,” says Rattus.

The exhibition is multi-layered and visually captivating. It highlights the rhythms of everyday life, the changing seasons, and regional characteristics against the backdrop of the Baltic Sea, which both offered freedom and set boundaries. Numerous objects tell moving stories, archival materials, photographs, and personal memories.

Visitors gain a perspective on the culture and identity of the coastal Swedes, and how this historic minority community has managed to preserve its essence amidst the turmoil of history.

The exhibition “Rannarootslased. Estlandssvenskar. Estonia-Swedes” is open at the Estonian National Museum from 25 May 2025 to 28 June 2026.

To learn more about this and similar topics
coastal Swedes ERM Estonian National Museum Estonian Swedes Exhibitions Tartu