List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

Map of Finland.

This is a list of places in Finland having standing links to local communities in other countries. In most cases, the association, especially when formalised by local government, is known as "town twinning" (though other terms, such as "partner towns" or "sister cities" are sometimes used instead), and while most of the places included are towns, the list also comprises villages, cities, districts, counties, etc. with similar links.

Akaa

Sande, Norway

Hallsberg, Sweden

Tapa, Estonia

Asikkala

Grindsted, Denmark (since 1973) Yogo, Japan (since 1997)

Prienai, Lithuania (since 1995) Grimstad, Norway (since 1973)

Köping, Sweden (since 1973)

Ähtäri

• Audru, Estonia
• Lycksele, Sweden

Espoo

Shanghai, China (since 1998)[1] Køge, Denmark[1] Nõmme, Estonia[1] Esztergom, Hungary[1]

Skagafjörður, Iceland[1] Kongsberg, Norway[1] Gatchina, Russia[1]

Sochi, Russia[1] Kristianstad, Sweden[1] Irving, Texas, United States[1]

Eura

Prior to the 2009 consolidation, Kiukainen was twinned with:

• Boksitogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, Russia (current status unknown)

Forssa

Södertälje, Sweden (since 1946) Sarpsborg, Norway (since 1951) Struer, Denmark (since 1946)

Tierp, Sweden (since 1969) Serpukhov, Russia (since 1964)

Gödöllő, Hungary (since 1990) Sault Ste. Marie, Canada (since 1990)

Hamina

Vordingborg, Denmark Paide, Estonia

Røros, Norway

Falun, Sweden

Hanko

Gentofte, Denmark Haapsalu, Estonia

Stord, Norway

Halmstad, Sweden

Harjavalta

• Boksitogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, Russia

Heinola

Piešťany, Slovakia Karlshamn, Sweden

Baranovichi, Belarus

Peine, Germany (since 1989)

Helsinki

The city of Helsinki does not officially recognize sister cities, but lists a special partnership relation with:

Beijing, China (since 2006)[2][3][4] Moscow, Russia[4]

Copenhagen, Denmark

Taipei, Taiwan[4][5]

Huittinen

Keila, Estonia Odda, Norway

Stenungsund, Sweden Frederiksværk, Denmark

Hoyerswerda, Germany Adendorf, Germany

Hyrynsalmi

• Aunus, Russia

Hyvinkää

Eigersund, Norway (since 1950) Kostroma, Russia (since 1973)

Motala, Sweden (since 1951) Kecskemet, Hungary (since 1986/2011)

Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Germany (since 1970) Kunshan, China (since 1989)

Hämeenlinna

Uppsala, Sweden (since 1940) Baerum, Norway (since 1950) Celle, Germany (since 1971) Tartu, Estonia (since 1991)

Frederiksberg, Denmark (since 1947) Tver, Russia (since 1954) Püspökladány, Hungary (since 1987)

Hafnarfjörður, Iceland (since 1950) Weimar, Germany (since 1961) Toruń, Poland (since 1989)

Imatra

Ludvika, Sweden Salzgitter, Germany

Zvolen, Slovakia Tikhvin, Russia (since 1971)

Szigetvár, Hungary Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia (since 2008)

Jakobstad

Birkerød, Denmark Bünde, Germany Garðabær, Iceland

Jūrmala, Latvia Asker, Norway Eslöv, Sweden

Söderhamn, Sweden Jamestown, New York, United States

Joensuu

• Vilnius, Lithuania^[6]

Jyväskylä

Esbjerg, Denmark (since 1947) Potsdam, Germany (since 1985) Debrecen, Hungary (since 1970)

Fjarðabyggð, Iceland (since 1958) Niiza, Japan (since 1997) Stavanger, Norway (since 1947)

Poznań, Poland (since 1974) Yaroslavl, Russia (since 1966)[7] Eskilstuna, Sweden (since 1947)

Järvenpää

Täby, Sweden (since 1956) Volkhov, Russia (since 1961) Jõgeva County, Estonia (since 1992)

Lørenskog, Norway (since 1956) Pasadena, California, United States (since 1983) Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany (since 2005)

Rødovre, Denmark (since 1956) Vác, Hungary (since 1984)

Kaarina

Jõgeva, Estonia Enköping, Sweden

Ansião, Portugal Szentes, Hungary

Sovetsky, Russia

Kajaani

Jiujiang, China (since 2006) Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Germany (since 1973)

Nyíregyháza, Hungary (since 1981) Rostov-on-Don, Russia (since 1956)

Östersund, Sweden (since 1943) Marquette, Michigan, United States (since 1997)

Kalajoki

Izumo, Shimane, Japan (since 2003)

Kankaanpää

Bollnäs, Sweden Flekkefjord, Norway

Gagra, Georgia Misburg-Hannover, Germany

Morsø, Denmark

Karkkila

Judenburg, Austria[8] Houffalize, Belgium[8] Sušice, Czech Republic[8] Holstebro, Denmark[8] Türi, Estonia[8] Granville, France[8] Bad Kötzting, Germany[8] Preveza, Greece[8]

Kőszeg, Hungary[8] Bellagio, Italy[8] Bundoran, Ireland[8] Sigulda, Latvia[8] Prienai, Lithuania[8] Niederanven, Luxembourg[8] Marsaskala, Malta[8]

Meerssen, Netherlands[8] Chojna, Poland[8] Sesimbra, Portugal[8] Zvolen, Slovakia[8] Altea, Spain[8] Oxelösund, Sweden[8] Sherborne, United Kingdom[8]

Kemi

Tromsø, Norway (since 1940) Volgograd, Russia (since 1953) Wismar, Germany (since 1959)

Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia Newtownards, Northern Ireland

Székesfehérvár, Hungary Luleå, Sweden

Kemijärvi

• Kandalaksha, Russia
• Sōbetsu, Japan (since 1993)
• Vardø, Norway
• Vadsø, Norway

Kempele

• Elva, Estonia

Kerava

Arumeru, Tanzania Keila, Estonia Reykjanesbær, Iceland Wladimir, Russia

Aschersleben, Germany Kristiansand, Norway Solt, Hungary

Hjørring, Denmark Ogre, Latvia Trollhättan, Sweden

Kiukainen

Prior to the 2009 consolidation with Eura, Kiukainen was twinned with:

• Boksitogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, Russia (current status unknown)

Kokemäki

Põltsamaa, Estonia Lier, Norway

Falköping, Sweden

Hobro, Denmark

Kokkola

Härnösand, Sweden Mörbylånga, Sweden Ullånger, Sweden Averøy, Norway Kristiansund, Norway

Fredericia, Denmark Ambla, Estonia Järva-Jaani, Estonia Marijampolė, Lithuania Boldog, Hungary

Hatvan, Hungary Ratingen, Germany Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States Greater Sudbury, Canada Fushun, China

Kotka

Taizhou, Jiangsu, China (since 2001)[9] Glostrup, Denmark (since 1947)[9] Tallinn, Estonia (since 1955)[9]

Greifswald, Germany (since 1959)[9] Lübeck, Germany (since 1969)[9] Klaipėda, Lithuania[10](since 1994)[9]

Fredrikstad, Norway (since 1950)[9] Gdynia, Poland (since 1961)[9] Kronstadt, Russia (since 1993)[9] Landskrona, Sweden (since 1940)[9]

Kouvola

Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany

Balatonfüred, Hungary

Vologda, Russia

Kuopio

Winnipeg, Canada Svendborg, Denmark Besançon, France Castrop-Rauxel, Germany[11] Gera, Germany

Bodø, Norway Győr, Hungary Opole, Poland[12] Craiova, Romania Pitkyaranta, Russia

Pskov, Russia Jönköping, Sweden Trabzon, Turkey Minneapolis, United States Shanghai Pudong, China[13]

Kyyjärvi

• Sorsele, Sweden
• Võnnu Parish, Estonia

Lahti

Deyang, China (since 2000) Most, Czech Republic Randers, Denmark (since 1947) Narva, Estonia (since 1994, partnership agreement)

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (since 1987) Suhl, Germany (since 1988) Pécs, Hungary (since 1956) Akureyri, Iceland (since 1947)

Ålesund, Norway (since 1947) Kaluga, Russia (since 1994) Västerås, Sweden (since 1940) Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine (since 1953)

Lappeenranta

Örebro, Sweden (since 1940) Klin, Russia (since 1966) Schwäbisch Hall, Germany (since 1985) Vyborg, Russia (since 1987)

Drammen, Norway (since 1948) Lake Worth, United States (since 1976) Szombathely, Hungary (since 1983)

Kolding, Denmark (since 1948) Stykkisholmur, Iceland (since 1980) Rakvere, Estonia (since 1994)

Lohja

Växjö, Sweden Ringerike, Norway

Aabenraa, Denmark Skagaströnd, Iceland

Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary

Mikkeli

Békéscsaba, Hungary Luga, Russia Mõisaküla, Estonia Aunus, Russia

Vejle, Denmark Molde, Norway Borås, Sweden

Naantali

Nordfyn, Denmark Vesturbyggð, Iceland

Svelvik, Norway Puck, Poland

Kirovsk, Russia Vadstena, Sweden

Nakkila

• Boksitogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, Russia

Nokia

Horsens, Denmark Blönduós, Iceland

Moss, Norway

Karlstad, Sweden

Orimattila

Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Germany Östhammar, Sweden

Jõgeva, Estonia

Valka, Latvia[14]

Oulu

Oulu is twinned with:^[15][16]

Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (since 1968)[17] Leverkusen, Germany (since 1968)[17] Siófok, Hungary (since 1978)[17]

Alta, Norway (since 1948)[17] Arkhangelsk, Russia (since 1993)[17][18] Boden, Sweden (since 1948)[17]

Bursa, Turkey (since 1978)[17][19] Odessa, Ukraine (since 1957)[17]

Oulunsalo

• Tanno, Japan (since 1992)
• Matera, Italy (since 2009)

Pargas

Kärdla, Estonia Ulstein, Norway

Chudovo, Russia

Haninge, Sweden

Pori

Sønderborg, Denmark (since 1952) Mâcon, France (since 1990) Bremerhaven, Germany (since 1967)

Stralsund, Germany (since 1968) Eger, Hungary (since 1973) Riga, Latvia (since 1965)[20]

Porsgrunn, Norway (since 1956) Kołobrzeg, Poland (since 1975) Sundsvall, Sweden (since 1940)

Porvoo

Lund, Sweden (since 1945) Dinkelsbühl, Germany (since 1961) Hancock, Michigan, United States (since 1988) Ventspils, Latvia (since 1990)

Viborg, Denmark (since 1950) Viljandi, Estonia (since 1961) Kamień Pomorski, Poland (since 1988) Viimsi, Estonia (since 1994)

Hamar, Norway (since 1953) Tyresö, Sweden (since 1966) Dalvik, Iceland (since 1978)

Puolanka

• Aunus, Russia

Raahe

• Skellefteå, Sweden (since 1946)
• Løgstør, Denmark (since 1946)
• Bergen, Norway (since 1946)
• Cherepovets, Russia (since 1968)
• Košice, Slovakia (since 1987)
• Vårgårda, Sweden
• Kullamaa, Estonia

Rauma

Næstved, Denmark Kaposvár, Hungary

Bessastadahreppur, Iceland Gjøvik, Norway

Kolpino, Russia Gävle, Sweden

Riihimäki

Suzhou, China (since 2004)[21] Aalborg, Denmark (since 1949)[21] Bad Segeberg, Germany (since 1954)[21] Szolnok, Hungary (since 1969)[21]

Húsavík, Iceland (since 1966)[21] Olaine, Latvia (since 1997)[21] Jonava, Lithuania (since 1999)[21] Skedsmo, Norway (since 1958)[21]

Gus-Hrustalnyj, Russia (since 1960)[21] La Granja de San Ildefonso, Spain (since 2001)[21] Karlskoga, Sweden (since 1940)[21]

Ristijärvi

• Aunus, Russia

Rovaniemi

St. Johann in Tirol, Austria Drvar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Harbin, China Grindavík, Iceland Kassel, Germany

Neustrelitz, Germany Ajka, Hungary Veszprém, Hungary Narvik, Norway Olsztyn, Poland

Murmansk, Russia Kiruna, Sweden Alanya, Turkey Cadillac, Michigan, United States

Salo

Odder, Denmark Varde, Denmark Nyborg, Denmark Albu, Estonia Anija, Estonia Elva, Estonia Emmaste, Estonia Kaarma, Estonia

Pühalepa, Estonia Türi, Estonia Puchheim, Germany Nagykanizsa, Hungary Gárdony, Hungary Levanger, Norway Sandnes, Norway Vennesla, Norway

Rzhev, Russia Katrineholm, Sweden Kramfors, Sweden Mariestad, Sweden Strängnäs, Sweden Trosa, Sweden Vingåker, Sweden St. Anthony, Minnesota, United States

Sodankylä

Berlevåg, Norway Norsjö, Sweden

Heiligenblut, Austria Révfülöp, Hungary

Kuola, Russia

Sastamala

Skövde, Sweden Kašin, Russia Pihtla, Estonia

Ringsted, Denmark Halden, Norway

Kuressaare, Estonia Vásárosnamény, Hungary

Suomussalmi

• Kalevala, Russia
• Nordmaling, Sweden

Suolahti

Prior to a 2007 consolidation with Sumiainen to make Äänekoski, Suolahti was twinned with:

• Borovichi, Novgorod Oblast, Russia (status unknown)

Tampere

Linz, Austria Olomouc, Czech Republic Odense, Denmark Tartu, Estonia Klaksvík, Faroe Islands Chemnitz, Germany Łódź, Poland (since 1996)[22]

Essen, Germany [11] Guangzhou, China [23] Miskolc, Hungary Kópavogur, Iceland Kaunas, Lithuania Trondheim, Norway (since 1946)[24]

Brașov, Romania Nizhny Novgorod, Russia Norrköping, Sweden Mwanza, Tanzania Kiev, Ukraine Syracuse, New York, United States

Tornio

Haparanda, Sweden Devizes, England Hammerfest, Norway

Ikast, Denmark Kirovsk, Russia

Szekszárd, Hungary Vetlanda, Sweden

Turku

Varna, Bulgaria Tianjin, China Aarhus, Denmark Tartu, Estonia Köln, Germany

Rostock, Germany Szeged, Hungary Florence, Italy Bergen, Norway Gdańsk, Poland

Constanţa, Romania Saint Petersburg, Russia Bratislava, Slovakia Gothenburg, Sweden

Vaasa

Pärnu, Estonia Malmö, Sweden Umeå, Sweden

Harstad, Norway Helsingör, Denmark Schwerin, Germany

Kiel, Germany Šumperk, Czech Republic Morogoro, Tanzania

Valkeakoski

Gotland, Sweden Hajdúszoboszló, Hungary Jelenia Góra, Poland (since 1979)

Kragerø, Norway (since 1954) Sokol, Russia (since 1971) Vechelde, Germany (since 1976)

Nanchang, China (since 1997) Mariehamn, Åland Islands (since 1999)

Varkaus

Lu'an, China Nakskov, Denmark Rjukan, Norway

Sandviken, Sweden Petrozavodsk, Russia Rüsselsheim, Germany

Pirna, Germany Zalaegerszeg, Hungary

Ylivieska

• Voss, Norway
• Ringe, Denmark
• Viimsi, Estonia
• Walden, Canada

Ylöjärvi

Arvika, Sweden Kongsvinger, Norway

Skive, Denmark Saku Parish, Estonia

Vyshny Volochyok, Russia Balatonföldvár, Hungary

Äänekoski

Prior to a 2007 consolidation with Sumiainen to make Äänekoski, Suolahti was twinned with:

• Borovichi, Novgorod Oblast, Russia (status unknown)

References

1. "Twin towns". Espoo. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
2. Yan, Yangtze (2006-07-14). "Beijing, Helsinki forge sister city relationship". Chinese Government. Chinese Government Official Portal. Retrieved 2013-08-05. External link in |publisher= (help)
3. "Sister Cities". Beijing Municipal Government. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
4. "Partners and Networks". Hel.fi (international section). City of Helsinki. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
5. "Taipei, Helsinki Sign Friendship Pact".
6. "Joensuu ja Vilna". Retrieved 2011-05-29.
7. "Twin cities". International relations. Archived from the original on 15 January 2005. Retrieved 2006-08-02.
8. "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
9. "Twin-cities of Kotka". Retrieved 2013-10-22.
10. "Twin-cities of Klaipėda". Retrieved 2011-05-29.
11. "List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District" (PDF). Twins2010.com. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
12. "Opole Official Website – Twin Towns". Opole. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
13. "Kuopio and Shanghai Pudong have signed a sister city agreement". City of Kuopio. 2012-07-20. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
14. "International cooperation". Valka. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
15. "Partneri- ja kummikaupungit (Partnership and twinning cities)". Oulun kaupunki (City of Oulu) (in Finnish). Retrieved 2013-07-27.
16. "Ystävyyskaupungit (Twin Cities)". Oulun kaupunki (City of Oulu) (in Finnish). Retrieved 2013-07-27.
17. "Twin towns". www.ouka.fi. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
18. Информация о городах-побратимах (in Russian). www.arhcity.ru. 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
19. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Web Site; Sister Cities.
20. "Twin cities of Riga". Riga City Council. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
21. "Twin towns of Riihimäki". City of Riihimäki. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
22. "Twin Cities". The City of Łódź Office. (in English) © 2007 UMŁ. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
23. "Sister Cities of Guangzhou". Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
24. Trondheims offisielle nettsted – Vennskapsbyer