2nd largest city in Sweden ~ 900,000 inhabitants Knowledge and industry hub 70% of Scandinavia’s industrial capacity within a 500 km radius. Volvo, AstraZeneca, SAAB, SKF,   Ericsson, Hasselblad cameras. 2 universities, 61,000 students. Easily accessible 2 international airports. 57 direct flights from European cities. One stop intercontinental flights. 20 min transport from both airports to the  city centre.

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Short history


Built by the Dutch

Trade, shipping and international contacts have distinguished Gothenburg ever since the city was founded in 1621 by Gustav II Adolf. It was built by Dutchmen, and in the 17th century the official languages were Dutch, German, Swedish and English.

In the 18th century The Swedish East India Company began trading with the east. Porcelain, tea, spices, textiles and other luxury goods of the time were shipped to Gothenburg.
 
In the 19th century Gothenburg became industrialized, largely due to the arrival of Scottish and English businessmen. Over the years many became rich, and they founded a hospital, library and university.

Modern-day Gothenburg with its wide boulevards, parks and stone houses was built around the end of the 19th century.



Gothenburg's East India Era

Right in the centre of Gothenburg is the old East India Company House (now the City Museum) which was once the hub of Sweden's trade with the Far East.

Most seafaring nations in the 18th century had an East India company which held a monopoly on trade with the East. Scottish merchants were not part of the lucrative dealings of the English, so Scot Colin Campbell, in association with Niclas Sahlgren in Gothenburg, devised an idea for a Swedish East India Company, which would be Sweden's first international trading company.

The company started up in 1731, and the next year the first ship set off for the Far East. This made Gothenburg a European centre of trade in products from China and the East. The main goods were silk, tea, furniture, porcelain, precious stones and other distinctive luxury items. The Swedish East India Company was extremely successful, making massive profits until the end of the 1700s. In all the company dispatched 132 expeditions in its 74 years of business .Each voyage was set up as a separate enterprise, and once the ship had returned and its cargo had been sold, the profits were shared and all the ledgers burnt. This is why it's hard to calculate the actual size of the dividends. Several Swedish and Scottish businessmen were part-owners, including Chalmers, Finlay, Sahlgren and Alströmer.

Trade with China saw the arrival of some new customs in Sweden. The Chinese cultural influence increased, and tea, rice, arrak punch and new root vegetables started appearing in Swedish homes. Middle and upper class families bought entire porcelain services with their monograms on. The last ship from East Asia arrived in Gothenburg in 1806, by which time the great East India era was already over.

However, profits from the trade formed the foundation of donations which founded such institutions as Sahlgrenska Hospital and Chalmers University of Technology.

Skansen Kronan

Skansen Kronan was part of the fortifications and is situated in Skansberget in the Haga district. Skansberget is also an excellent viewpoint.
Skansen Kronan is located on Skansberget in the Haga district. This tower-like fort was designed by Erik Dahlberg and completed in 1697.

The view from the ramparts affords a panorama view of the city and harbour entrance. Between the fortlet and the main fortress there was a fortified path surrounded by moats on both sides.

Skansen Kronan has also been used as a prison and private lodgings during the 19th century and a military museum in the 20th century. Nowadays, you there is a restaurant and conference facilities.