History

A paradise for Stockholmers

Djurgården´s tradition as a magnet for pleasure-seekers goes back
hundreds of years.

The entertainment tradition on Djurgården goes back hundreds of years. The island was a paradise to the residents of Stockholm and has been royal property since the 1400s. Queen Kristina kept her lions here and the forests were a place for royal hunts. The common people were attracted to the taverns, inns and small waffle shops.

Much of the material for Carl Michael Bellman’s racy stories originated here. Later on, the selection of entertainment was expanded to include theatre productions, variety shows, and music and dancing salons. In 1850, the first amusement park opened its doors, Hasselbacken opened, and Cirkus was completed in 1891. That same year, the world’s first open-air museum was opened – Skansen. Djurgården has also been the scene of major events such as the Public Art and Industry Exhibition of 1897 and the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930.

The traditions in the area have lived on in our time – Djurgården has passed on its legacy. People who learned the way to Skansen or Gröna Lund as a child have the rare pleasure of wandering along the same paths with their own children. This legacy shall be preserved and developed. The millions of visitors have made their voices heard: Djurgården belongs to everyone!