Strömstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Strömstad
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Strömstad Harbor in August 2006
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 Strömstad
Location in Västra Götaland
Strömstad
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Bohuslän |
| County | Västra Götaland County |
| Municipality | Strömstad Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.40 km2 (1.31 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 6,288 |
| • Density | 1,847/km2 (4,780/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Strömstad is a town in Sweden. It is located in Västra Götaland County. In 2010, about 6,288 people lived there. Even though it's a small town, it's called a "city" because of its history.
Strömstad became part of Sweden in 1658. This happened after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Roskilde. This treaty moved the Bohuslän area from Norway to Sweden. Strömstad officially became a town in 1676.
In the mid-1800s, Strömstad became a popular place for sea-bathing and spas. Many people came to relax and enjoy the water. The town is very close to Norway. Cars and boats from Norway arrive every day. Strömstad is busy all year because of its ferry link to Sandefjord, Norway. This is especially true around Easter and in June and July. Thousands of Norwegian visitors come to Strömstad during these times.
People in Strömstad say their town gets more summer sunshine than any other town north of the Alps. Many ferries travel daily between Strömstad and Sandefjord, Norway. Strömstad also has a ferry that goes to the Koster Islands. These islands are a nature preserve. They are the westernmost islands in Sweden where people live. Strömstad is also home to Sweden's largest deepwater harbor.
Contents
History of Strömstad
The area where Strömstad is located, called Bohuslän, used to be part of Norway. In 1658, it became part of Sweden. This change happened because of the Treaty of Roskilde.
Strömstad started as a small fishing village called Strömmen. It soon gained special rights as a merchant town. This helped it grow. In 1676, King Charles XI of Sweden officially gave it a town charter. However, some records show it was already seen as a city in 1672.
Because it was a port for merchant ships, the town's coat of arms shows a ship. This symbol is still used today.
Wars and Growth
Strömstad was an important base for Sweden during wars against Denmark and Norway. It was often captured and recaptured over the years. For example, King Charles XII of Sweden used Strömstad as a base. He launched his campaign against Norway from here between 1716 and 1718.
At that time, only about 300 people lived in Strömstad. But fishing became very successful. By 1805, the population grew to 1,100 people. In the late 1700s, people also started visiting Strömstad for its spas and baths. This made it a popular tourist spot throughout the 1800s. Sweden's first hot baths opened in the city in 1786. By 1917, Strömstad had 2,949 residents.
Geography and Nature
The Strömstad Municipality is in the Bohuslän province. This area is in western Sweden. It shares a border with Norway near Svinesund in the north. The municipality covers about 472 square kilometers. It is located along the coast.
Strömstad is the main town in the municipality. Smaller towns include Skee, Kebal, and Svinesund. The major road, European route E6, goes through the municipality.
The Koster Islands
Strömstad is home to the Koster Islands. These islands form an archipelago. The two main islands are North Koster and South Koster. North Koster is 3.9 square kilometers. South Koster is 7.6 square kilometers.
The Koster Islands are very popular with tourists. South Koster has one of the largest sandy beaches in western Sweden. The nearby Kosterhavet National Park is a special place. It has Sweden's largest colony of seals. The islands have many vacation homes and hotels. They are the westernmost islands in Sweden where people live.
What Makes Strömstad Special
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Strömstad is known for its busy harbor, especially for yachts. It can get very crowded in the summer.
Because taxes on certain goods are higher in Norway than in Sweden, many Norwegians visit Strömstad to shop. This has made the Swedish state-owned shop, Systembolaget, very popular. At one point, this shop had the highest sales in all of Sweden. This caused a lot of traffic in the city center. The city council decided to close the shop on Maundy Thursday for Easter 2008. This day is a public holiday in Norway but not in Sweden, leading to many visitors.
Ferries travel from Strömstad to Sandefjord, Norway. This route crosses the Oslofjord. There are also local ferries to the Koster Islands.
Strömstad is the setting for a play called The Creditors by August Strindberg. The Black Metal band Dissection is from the city.
A famous author, Emelie Flygare Carlén, was born in Strömstad in 1807. Her writings give us a great look into life in Bohuslän in the early 1800s. In the 1840s, she was Sweden's most widely read novelist. She was also very well known outside of Sweden.
Economy and Tourism
Strömstad was a spa town in the 1700s. Today, it still gets many tourists, especially from Norway.
Strömstad has a long history as a bathing city. Sweden's first sea-bathing facilities were set up here in 1783. Besides tourism, fishing and fish processing are important industries. About 600 people from Strömstad travel to Norway for work.
Sports in Strömstad
Here are some sports clubs in Strömstad:
- IFK Strömstad
Strömstad hosted the 2016 World Orienteering Championships. This is a big event where people use maps and compasses to find their way.
Getting Around Strömstad
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The train and bus stations are located near the harbor. They are across the street from the international ferry terminal. The Bohus Line train goes from Gothenburg to Strömstad. You can reach the city by train from Gothenburg. You can also take a bus from Smögen. If you travel by car, you can take Route 174 from European route E6. Strömstad is about 100 kilometers north of Smögen. It is 25 kilometers north of Tanumshede.
Strömstad has two daily ferry connections. One is an international route to Sandefjord, Norway. The other is a local route to the Koster Islands. The Koster Islands are a nature reserve. They are the westernmost islands in Sweden where people live. These islands get more sunshine hours than almost anywhere else in Sweden.
Fun Things to See and Do
There are many interesting places to visit in Strömstad. The Strömstad Museum teaches about local history. Friluftsmuseet Fiskartorpet is an outdoor museum. It shows what fishermen's cottages used to look like.
The harbor area has many shops, bars, and restaurants. Boats leave from here to visit several islands, including the Koster Islands. You can also go on seal safari tours around the Ursholmarna Islands. Nature preserves on Rossö and Saltö Islands can be reached by car.
Other places to see include Strömstad Church in the city center. It has beautiful decorations like frescoes and ship models hanging from the ceiling. Concerts are often held at Lokstallet Konsthall. The Town Hall ("Stadshus") was built in 1917 and is also worth seeing.
Twin Towns
Strömstad is a twin town with Ledbury, England. This partnership started in 2000. It helps both towns build international friendships.
Gallery
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Strömstad Station
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From Strömstad Marina
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Strömstads Church
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Ferry to Koster Islands
See also
In Spanish: Strömstad para niños
