Source: Taideteollinen korkeakoulu, Aalto-yliopiston arkisto

Hello everyone! I've got a very odd question.

I'm from Prague, Czech Republic and I collect license plates (mostly foreign) from all over the world. I know some people import a vehicle from Åland to Finland and I would really love to have one of your beautiful license plates. If anyone has any deregistered Åland license plates, or if you might know someone who has one, is there any way you could send me one? I will cover all of the shipping costs and I would pay extra.

Wishing everyone a very nice day!

I have been trying to study Finnish for a while and due to circumstances, it was never easy. The first in-person class was basically like; "Open the book on page X and try to solve it. Ask me if you have any questions"

Then I tried to do an online class. There the teacher was often silent for a long time and it looked like she had another job on the side...

(Sounds like I put the blame on others, but I am well aware, that I could study more...)

Now finally I found a course, I am actually excited to go to!

The teacher is awesome and it is very interactive. We are encouraged to talk a lot and I feel I really made some progress.

Last week she told us that we need more students in order to continue with the course. We are 6 at most, but there were also just 2 of us a few times.

So, if you are looking for an in-person course in Lohja, and you are at the beginning of your journey to learn this language, please let me know!

It is the beginners course A1.

https://uusi.opistopalvelut.fi/hiidenopisto/en/course/14505/

Btw. I am not affiliated in any way with the school, I am just glad to have found a course that works for me and I would like to continue that.

Kajaani Castle is the northernmost castle in the world (if the ruins are included). If only standing castles are counted, the northernmost one is Olavinlinna Castle.

Kajaani Castle is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/113393-northernmost-castle

Hi! I would like to ask about the electricity and home insurance costs when renting a private apartment.
I have been living alone in a student apartment for two years, paying €487 per month, including everything (water, internet, and electricity). So, I don’t really know how much electricity and home insurance usually cost separately.
I am planning to move to a private apartment, but I noticed that tenants usually need to make their own electricity contract.
Can anyone give me an idea of how much I might need to pay monthly for electricity and home insurance? I have normal electricity consumption. I use the washing machine in the building for free, cook sometimes, use the microwave occasionally, boil water in an electric kettle every day, charge my gadgets, and use a refrigerator. I don’t have a TV.
I just want to have an idea of the average costs so I can plan my budget for the whole year and compare the total expenses before deciding to move. Thank you!

After Onni Hautamäki learned that he would make his NHL debut this season, the Finnish linesperson first called his girlfriend and parents back home. The assignment came with a bonus: The game fell on his 31st birthday.

On Oct. 13, when he took the ice for the Detroit Red Wings versus New Jersey Devils at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, Hautamäki had even more reason to celebrate. While some of the league’s biggest names hail from Finland, such as Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho, no official from their country had ever before worked an NHL game.

“It was such an unbelievable honor to go on the ice with an official NHL crest on my jersey,” Hautamäki, who wears No. 62, told The Athletic.

The historic appearance marked the latest step in an on-ice officiating career that began at 16, when Hautamäki, a native of Kuopio, Finland, stopped playing hockey and joined a local referee club.

From there he worked his way up to Mestis, Finland’s second-tier league. After three years, he moved to Liiga, the country’s top league, where he officiated for another seven years.

In North America, aspiring officials can develop through local games, training camps and skating instruction, gaining experience and exposure to scouts from junior and professional leagues. Another route is the NHL’s annual Exposure Combine, which recruits current and former players interested in moving into officiating.

For officials trained in Europe, however, the jump to hockey’s highest league remains rare. Before Hautamäki, only Swedish referee Marcus Vinnerborg, Russian referee Evgeny Romasko and Czech linesperson Libor Suchanek had officiated at the NHL level. Vinnerborg worked in the NHL from 2010 to 2012, while Romasko returned to Russia’s KHL in 2018. Suchanek remains on the NHL staff and worked alongside Hautamäki in his debut.

Hautamäki initially caught the attention of Al Kimmel, the NHL’s director of officiating scouting and development, several years earlier.

“I first watched Onni at the 2023 World Junior Championships and his skating stood out immediately,” Kimmel said.

Read the rest here for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7693168/2026/10/25/onni-hautamaki-nhl-official/?unlocked_article_code=1.LVE.xP5U.7Uo6jM54IaPK&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

Hi!
I live in Helsinki and I want to know if there’s such a thing as piano lesson for a specific song?

I used to learn it as a child but I don’t remember much apart from the C major keys(?)

I’m not trying to learn how to play everything. I’m wanting to learn only one specific song. I would love to sing and play piano for that song as accompaniment.

I’m a 21 yo student so I don’t have much money for lessons but are there any suggestions?

Is a net salary of €3,000–€4,000 per month considered high in Finland, or not? What salary is considered above average?

Hi everyone,

I'm a 24-year-old Bangladeshi currently living in Australia. I graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance and currently work full-time in business development. I've become quite disillusioned with Australia's uncertain PR pathways and am considering pursuing a two-year master's in Finland in 2027, with the ultimate goal of settling permanently.

I've read about Finland's new January 2026 PR rules, which potentially allow graduates of eligible Finnish degrees to apply for permanent residence without meeting the usual residence-duration requirement.

However, I'm confused about a few things:

1. Can I apply for PR immediately after completing an eligible master's and meeting the Finnish language requirement (A2 or 15 credits)?

2. Would a post-study job-seeking A permit satisfy the PR requirements, or would I need employment or another qualifying residence basis?

3. How difficult is finding employment in Finland for non-EU graduates, particularly in business, finance or marketing?

4. Has anyone gone through a similar pathway? How has your experience been with immigration, social integration and overall quality of life?

My budget is around A$15,000–25,000, with possible family support. I'm willing to learn Finnish and integrate into society.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been in a similar situation. I'm simply looking for a realistic pathway to build a stable future rather than spending more years navigating immigration uncertainty.

Thanks!

Photographer: Eino Heinonen

Source: Helsinki City Museum

Hey y’all! Could any Finnish folks help me identify the song playing on the tape after the show ends? Here’s the video, timestamped at the exact moment: https://youtu.be/oo0pryAMbNk?si=8ggA_YBiCz1B6wMX&t=4945

Here in the UK, one of our Labour Members of Parliament, who is also a former Royal Marine, has recommended the reintroduction of National Service and suggested that we could learn from Finland. I know that Finnish men between 18 and 60 have to complete 347 days (I think?) of National Service, that most do this aged 18 or occasionally after university and that there are military and civilian service options.

We have had nothing like this in Britain for some decades. National Service was officially ended in 1960s and the last Servicemen finished in 1963. I had some Army training at the private boys’ school I attended but that was not the norm and was an optional activity that I chose to do and found interesting. Talking to men from the National Service generation, they seem to have found it a positive experience. What are your thoughts about it?

Photographer: Eino Heinonen

Source: Helsinki City Museum

​

As someone looking at Finland from the outside, I often see it ranked among the happiest countries in the world and praised for its work-life balance and quality of life.

I’m curious to hear from people living in Finland: what is everyday life really like there? Are jobs reasonably accessible, is the work-life balance good, and can people live comfortably on their salaries? How do things like the weather, social life, and integration affect the experience?

I’d love to hear your honest perspective, including both the good and the not-so-good. Does life in Finland match the image people get from the internet?

Thanks! 🙂

Hi. Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts with me — and for delighting in puppy joy. Here’s a free and shareable link: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/world/europe/finland-puppies-livestream-slow-tv.html?unlocked_article_code=1.K1E.YsRw.RyhEsSB_VXWC&smid=url-share for anyone who wants to read the article.

Also: I'm new to covering Finland. I welcome ideas! If there's something you all think I should look into -- something horrible, something wonderful -- please email me: [amelia.nierenberg@nytimes.com](mailto:amelia.nierenberg@nytimes.com). I'll probably be back in here with another question about a story soon enough. Thank you all for your kindness. Kiitos!

I’m curious to hear the opinions of Finnish people about growing old and possibly living in a senior home(vanhankoti) one day.

Imagine that you reach an age when you can no longer manage everyday life independently and need help with things like cooking, bathing, dressing, taking medication, or moving around. Your family might not be able to take care of you at home, so moving into a senior home becomes one of your options.

How would you feel about that?

One thing I’m also curious about is whether, regardless of how wealthy, influential, or well-connected you are, you could eventually find yourself in a situation where moving into a care home becomes necessary, and your family’s wishes alone might not be enough to keep you living at home. How much control do you think you would have over that decision in Finland?

I’m interested in your honest opinions, including your fears, expectations, and hopes. I’m not looking to judge anyone’s choices. I would simply like to understand how Finnish people think and feel about this stage of life.