Welcome to Finland Explained

Stories for those who want to understand Finland, not just visit or live here

Every country has stories that make its land unique.

Some are told so often that they become clichés. Others remain hidden, waiting for someone curious enough to discover them.

I created Finland Explained for those who want to look beyond the postcards and travel brochures, those curious enough who find a fascination uncovering the little known facts and the people behind the stories that make Finland a small and peaceful nation where berries are a daily delicacy and small talk is widely absent.

Whether you are Finnish, have made Finland your home, dream of visiting or moving here one day, or simply wonder what makes this northern country so fascinating, this publication is for you.

We’ll explore the Finland that exists between ancient forests and quantum computers, between centuries-old traditions and world-leading innovation, between long, dark winters and endless summer nights.

Along the way, we’ll uncover the stories behind Finland’s history, culture, language, architecture, science, technology, education, design, nature, food, folklore, and everyday life.

Some articles will answer questions you’ve always wondered about.

Why are there so many saunas?

What does sisu really mean?

Why does Finland consistently rank among the happiest countries in the world?

How did a small Nordic nation become home to remarkable innovators, engineers, artists, startups, and entrepreneurs?

Other stories will introduce places, traditions, and remarkable people that deserve to be better known beyond Finland’s borders.

This is not a travel guide.

It’s a guide to understanding Finland.

As a science and technology journalist and futurist, I have long been fascinated by the people, ideas, and innovations shaping our future. Living in Finland has shown me that the country’s greatest strength is not just its technology or its education system, but the way history, nature, resilience, and curiosity intertwine to shape everyday life.

That is the journey I hope we’ll take together.

Some newsletters will travel back hundreds of years into Finnish history.

Others will visit cutting-edge research laboratories, startup campuses, museums, Arctic landscapes, islands, castles, and cities.

We’ll celebrate famous achievements, rediscover forgotten stories, meet inspiring people, and occasionally smile at the wonderfully quirky traditions that make Finland unlike anywhere else in the world. Trust me, I have spent my life travelling and living in different lands. Finland is unlike any other place and so little it’s known about it.

My hope is that every article leaves you feeling you’ve learned something new—something you won’t easily find in a standard guidebook.

Whether you’ve lived in Finland all your life or have never set foot here, I hope you’ll discover something that makes you look at this remarkable country with fresh eyes.

Thank you for joining me at the beginning of this adventure.

There is so much to explore.

Welcome to Finland Explained!

Stories. History. Culture. Nature. Science. Technology. Innovation. Everyday life.

-Susan