TheMayor.EU logo TheMayor.EU logo
Get involved
  • Latest News
  • Аbout us
    • What we do
    • Team
    • Partners
    • Contacts
  • Growing City
  • Smart City
  • Green City
  • Social City
  • Read Twice
  • Mayor of Europe™
  • Interviews

What we do

Team

Partners

Contacts

Development

See all
image
Austria / Vienna / Development / Mobility

Vienna expands bike infrastructure – 20 km for 2023

The big highlights of the project are two cycling highways, one leading to Lower Austria in the south and another leading to Donaustadt

Mar 23, 2023 13:16
image
Romania / Development / Energy efficiency

Romanian town starts geothermal project for district heating

Sântana has only 11,000 residents, yet several municipal buildings will get connected to a renewable geothermal reservoir deep underground

Mar 22, 2023 17:06

Economy and Finance

See all
image
Germany / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Despite revenue drop - Leipzig to invest in public transport

With a decline in passengers due to Covid-19 and the energy crisis, among other factors, the city will focus on increasing the quality of service

Mar 23, 2023 16:22
image
Italy / Development / Economy and Finance

Italian government greenlights bridge between Sicily and mainland

The idea dates back even to Antiquity, but how feasible is it?

Mar 17, 2023 18:02

Politics and Reforms

See all
image
Luxembourg / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

Luxembourg makes contraception free in April

While the new health policy will fund the morning-after pill and various progesterone treatments, it will not cover condoms

Mar 24, 2023 15:47
image
Italy / Rome / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Italy’s far-right government OKs construction of Holocaust museum

The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome

Mar 21, 2023 17:11

Innovation and Research

See all
image
Bulgaria / Sofia / Development / Innovation and Research

Sofia seeks young people's innovative ideas in Academy for VISIONARIES 2023

The city wants new approaches to developing the urban environment and is willing to fund the best solutions

Mar 15, 2023 17:46
image
Germany / Berlin / Economy and Finance / Innovation and Research

Berlin offers targeted support to make more businesses sustainable

Around 75% of German CO2 emissions come from the private sector, yet less than 1% of businesses are considered fully sustainable

Mar 14, 2023 16:59

Digital transformation

See all
image
Belgium / Leuven / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Leuven tries to tackle party noise with smart tech

City officials found that simple messages about respecting residents’ sleep were most effective if coupled with the right presentation

Mar 24, 2023 13:29
image
Germany / Hamburg / Digital transformation / Mobility

Germany commits to AI-driven public transport in Hamburg

The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030

Mar 21, 2023 15:48

Energy efficiency

See all
image
Germany / Hamburg / Culture and Tourism / Energy efficiency

Hamburg sets guidelines for placing green infrastructure on heritage buildings

The city has learned a lot from an ongoing project for a solar roof on the Altonaer Museum

Mar 24, 2023 17:25
image
Romania / Development / Energy efficiency

Romanian town starts geothermal project for district heating

Sântana has only 11,000 residents, yet several municipal buildings will get connected to a renewable geothermal reservoir deep underground

Mar 22, 2023 17:06

Mobility

See all
image
Germany / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Despite revenue drop - Leipzig to invest in public transport

With a decline in passengers due to Covid-19 and the energy crisis, among other factors, the city will focus on increasing the quality of service

Mar 23, 2023 16:22
image
Austria / Vienna / Development / Mobility

Vienna expands bike infrastructure – 20 km for 2023

The big highlights of the project are two cycling highways, one leading to Lower Austria in the south and another leading to Donaustadt

Mar 23, 2023 13:16

Public Spaces

See all
image
Spain / Barcelona / Public Spaces / Social City

Barcelona to host Spain’s first pet cemetery

It will open its doors in 2024 and offer cremations and burials

Mar 16, 2023 17:55
image
Greece / Athens / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Athens to build Greece's first 100% ‘green’ museum

The building will be on the site of Plato’s Ancient Academy

Mar 15, 2023 16:11

Culture and Tourism

See all
image
Germany / Hamburg / Culture and Tourism / Energy efficiency

Hamburg sets guidelines for placing green infrastructure on heritage buildings

The city has learned a lot from an ongoing project for a solar roof on the Altonaer Museum

Mar 24, 2023 17:25
image
Austria / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health

Nursing homes in Graz embrace classical music as therapy

The city has arranged four tailor-made programmes for the different residences as a way to reconnect with patients’ life and memories

Mar 22, 2023 15:51

Education and Sport

See all
image
Belgium / Leuven / Education and Sport / Social City

Leuven to fight discrimination with role-playing games

The city has developed its own way to teach young people how to react when they witness unjust treatments

Mar 21, 2023 17:24
image
Luxembourg / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Free and 100% organic sanitary pads - Esch-sur-Alzette has you covered

The city will supply and maintain 138 dispensers in public buildings

Mar 10, 2023 17:19

Welfare and Health

See all
image
Luxembourg / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

Luxembourg makes contraception free in April

While the new health policy will fund the morning-after pill and various progesterone treatments, it will not cover condoms

Mar 24, 2023 15:47
image
Belgium / Leuven / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Leuven tries to tackle party noise with smart tech

City officials found that simple messages about respecting residents’ sleep were most effective if coupled with the right presentation

Mar 24, 2023 13:29
image
Interviews

Kaisa Karjalainen: “It’s better to be an imperfect zero waster for the rest of our lives than a perfect one for two weeks”

Mar 14, 2023 12:56
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
image
Romania / Cluj-Napoca / Digital transformation / Interviews / Politics and Reforms

Online public services as efficient as TikTok: Cluj-Napoca’s Digital Transformation

Feb 16, 2023 13:51
Denis Balgaranov
image
Bulgaria / Interviews / Read Twice

Veni Markovski: It's about time the media stopped inviting “experts” who spread false info

Nov 28, 2022 11:30
Denis Balgaranov
image
Netherlands / Utrecht / Green City / Interviews

Sharon Dijksma: Without cities, it will be impossible to tackle global warming

Nov 21, 2022 13:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
image
Interviews / Politics and Reforms

Vasco Cordeiro: The European project is at stake when solidarity is at stake

Aug 1, 2022 11:34
Denis Balgaranov
image
Interviews

Cities Mission has made citizen engagement and participatory processes an important part of its functioning

Jul 14, 2022 14:57
ICLEI Europe
image
Portugal / Matosinhos / Interviews

Luisa Salgueiro: Climate resilience work is never completed, it’s a continuously upgraded project

Jun 23, 2022 12:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
image
Interviews

EBRD's aim is to support increased climate ambition within cities

May 18, 2022 13:33
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
image
Greece / Athens / Interviews / Welfare and Health

Melina Daskalaki: Our mission is to promote the social reintegration of homeless individuals

May 16, 2022 11:04
Svilena Iotkovska
image
Sweden / Interviews

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh: Malmö Resilience Hub will have the potential to connect cities on the Baltic Sea

May 11, 2022 15:26
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Search

Home
Finland image
Finland
Vantaa  image

Vantaa

Vantaa
Ritva Viljanen
Mayor

Ritva Viljanen

Biography
View old mayors

Vantaa has a rich history that dates back to the Stone Age. Before Swedish colonisation of the area and after the so-called second crusade to Finland in the 13th century, the area was inhabited by Tavastians and Finns proper.

Prior to the name Vantaa being taken into use in 1974, the area was known as Helsingin Pitäjä. The earliest record of the area is as Helsinge in 1351 when king Magnus II of Sweden granted salmon fishing rights on the river Vantaa to the Estonian Padise monastery. The rapids of river Vantaa were known as Helsingfors, from which the current Swedish name of Helsinki derives. Early settlement in Vantaa was centered around the river, and from it the city's current coat of arms derived its imagery. 

Since the 14th century, the road between Turku and Vyborg, King`s Road, has run through Vantaa. The road brought significant attention to the city, and its location on the salmon rich river led to a permanent population.

In 1862, the railway between Helsinki and Hameelinna was constructed, and one of its 7 stations was built in Tikkurila, on its intersection with King's Road. The Swedish architect Carl Albert Edelfelt designed a Renaissance styled station building, which is the oldest extant station building in Finland and (as of 1978) has been adapted into the Vantaa City Museum. The railway brought industry and induced population growth.

Helsingin Pitäjä gained municipality rights in 1865, after which it was named Helsingin maalaiskunta ("Rural Municipality of Helsinki").

In 1952, the new international airport of Helsinki opened in Vantaa for the 1952 Summer Olympics.

In 1972, the municipality was renamed Vantaa. In 1974, the town got full city rights as Vantaan kaupunki/Vanda stad or "City of Vantaa".

The city grew rapidly starting from 1960's and a railway line was built to the western side of the city in 1970's.

In 2015, an extension to the existing railway line, the Ring Rail Line opened, providing service to the airport and new residential and working districts.

Source: Wikipedia

More
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Politics and Reforms

Vantaa incites residents to vote with AI-generated images

The city would like to see more of its inhabitants participate in the upcoming Finnish parliamentary elections, so it’s resorted to some contemporary creativity

Mar 17, 2023 17:15
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Education and Sport / Public Spaces

This Finnish city will allow burkini in the public pools

Vantaa has also given the green light to swimming shorts, so the wardrobe options to pool users have definitely expanded a great deal

Dec 13, 2022 17:54
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
image
Belgium / Croatia / Finland / Italy / Poland / Antwerp / Vantaa / Warsaw / Zagreb / Development / Social City

Antwerp, Pesaro, Vantaa, Warsaw and Zagreb pledge to create inclusive cities for refugees and migrants

The Integrating Cities Charter now has 46 signatories

Nov 17, 2022 13:17
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Green City / Innovation and Research

Finnish air-fed protein could solve world hunger

The invention promises to be revolutionary as it can decouple food production from agriculture and its environmental impacts

Jun 27, 2022 15:50
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
image
Finland / Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Education and Sport

Helsinki Metropolitan Area offers residents 125 guided tours in nature

Excursions will be free of charge

Apr 26, 2022 14:36
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Innovation and Research

Vantaa Innovation Competition: Applications open on 14 April

The Finnish city will allocate EUR 300,000 for the realisation of the best ideas

Apr 13, 2022 11:53
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Espoo / Helsinki / Pirkkala / Tampere / Vantaa / Welfare and Health

Which are Finland’s most vibrant cities?

Ramboll conducted a study based on the 15-minute cities concept and its LIVCY index

Oct 04, 2021 17:01
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Belgium / Finland / Germany / Ireland / Lithuania / Netherlands / Portugal / Spain / Braga / Brussels / Dublin / Vantaa / Vilnius / Innovation and Research

European Capital of Innovation Awards 2021 semi-finalists announced

16 cities from 10 countries have made it to the semi-final stage

Sep 02, 2021 16:26
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Culture and Tourism

Vantaa invites residents to participate in a photography competition

The Vantaa Museum Photo Marathon will take place on 11 September as part of the European Heritage Days

Aug 26, 2021 17:04
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Digital transformation / Education and Sport

Vantaa modernises its early childhood education services

Intelligent automation will help pinpoint the best pre-schools and kindergartens for each child

Aug 10, 2021 13:08
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Development

Vantaa will revitalise its city centre with a modern building

The future establishment will offer retail space, cultural facilities, offices, and apartments

May 19, 2021 11:00
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Welfare and Health

Vantaa will invest 1 million euros to help unemployed youth

COVID-19 has doubled the number of young, unemployed people

Apr 12, 2021 13:28
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Vantaa / Development / Welfare and Health

The City of Vantaa to begin Child Friendly Cities work

As of this year, Vantaa will begin implementing UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities model to guarantee the fulfillment of children’s rights.

Feb 23, 2021 11:23
Svilena Iotkovska
  • en
image
Finland / Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Culture and Tourism / Green City

Helsinki’s libraries ditch plastic book covers

Instead, bio coating will be used in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen

Feb 12, 2021 16:10
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Tampere / Turku / Vantaa / Energy efficiency

Multicity project offers environmental solutions to Finland’s urban areas

A landmark initiative involving 6 cities has allowed them to find new ways to further combat climate change on their premises

Dec 27, 2020 15:09
Anton Stoyanov
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Tampere / Turku / Vantaa / Mobility

Finnish cities band together for massive railway projects

The plans for these projects were approved by the Finnish government earlier this year but work is now set to finally begin

Dec 09, 2020 11:48
Anton Stoyanov
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Welfare and Health

Finnish cities launch campaign to encourage mask wearing

The campaign is specifically aimed at the country’s youth

Nov 19, 2020 10:43
Anton Stoyanov
  • en
image
Vantaa / Energy efficiency

Vantaa is committed to becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030

Mayor Ritva Viljanen focuses on the major goal of the upcoming EU programme period

Oct 22, 2020 10:59
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Welfare and Health

Espoo to offer municipal employment trials with the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa

The social initiative will start in spring 2020

Nov 14, 2019 10:15
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Vantaa / Welfare and Health

Vantaa Municipality offers free park lunch for children

This summertime good practice will cost around 25,000 euros

Jun 19, 2019 08:49
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Tampere / Vantaa / Development

Six Finnish Smart Cities work together

They are building a model for sustainable urban development

Apr 05, 2019 12:17
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Mobility

Espoo and Helsinki have launched the shared-use bicycle season

Vantaa and Oulu launch in June

Apr 03, 2019 13:26
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Espoo / Helsinki / Vantaa / Mobility

The first self-driving bus for all weather conditions will go through the streets of Espoo in April

It will begin operating in Hämeenlinna, Vantaa and Helsinki later in 2019

Mar 12, 2019 11:57
Monika Dimitrova
  • en
image
Vantaa / Mobility

The city of Vantaa is rolling out 1000 shared city bikes next year

Shared city bikes are increasing across Finland

Dec 14, 2018 14:26
Monika Dimitrova

Newsletter

Receive the latest news from the EU municipalities in your inbox.
facebook twitter linkedin instagram
RSS

Аbout us

  • What we do
  • Team
  • Contacts

Growing City

  • Economy and Finance
  • Politics and Reforms
  • Development

Smart City

  • Digital transformation
  • Innovation and Research

Social City

  • Culture and Tourism
  • Education and Sport
  • Welfare and Health

Green City

  • Mobility
  • Public Spaces
  • Energy efficiency
© 2023
Contacts
FAQs
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Advertising and Sponsored Content
Image credits: Depositphotos
By: StudioX