Four reasons why Riihimäki is Finland's leading glass city

1. The history of glass lives on in the cityscape

Glass is one of the strongest cornerstones of Riihimäki's identity. Riihimäen Lasi operated from 1910 to 1990 and was at one time the largest glass factory in the Nordic countries, employing over a thousand people at its peak.

The factory produced everyday glass and unique art glass. Many remember Tamara Aladin's colorful vases and Timo Sarpaneva's modern design objects.

The park named after glass artist Aimo Okkolini and many glass-themed street names reinforce the city's glass story. Lasitehtaan koulu (translated into The Glass Factory School) also carries the legacy forward.

The city is considering honoring its extensive glass heritage by renaming two streets after Helena Tynell and Nanny Still, the internationally acclaimed designers of Riihimäen Lasi.

2. The Finnish Glass Museum is a pilgrimage destination for design lovers

The Finnish Glass Museum is a national museum responsible for coordinating cooperation in the glass industry and developing international connections. The know-how of handcrafted glass was accepted into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2023 – the Finnish Glass Museum played a key role in the process. The museum is one of the most prestigious glass museums in the world, along with the Corning Museum of Glass in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimäki's most famous attraction, is visited by approximately 50 000 visitors annually. The museum is located in the old Riihimäki Glass Factory, in a spacious factory environment designed as a museum by sculptor Tapio Wirkkala.

The museum's permanent exhibition tells the fascinating history of glass - nostalgic childhood drinking glasses and design classics. Changing exhibitions present the best of Finnish and foreign glass art. In the summer of 2025, the museum will exhibit An exhibition focusing on Tamara Aladin's colorful work.

One of the highlights of the Glass Museum's event year is the events held in January and June. These Glass Day events can attract up to 5 000 glass enthusiasts. The next Glass Days will be held on June 8th of 2025.

3. Glass entrepreneurs continue traditions

The glassballs on Tehtaankatu's lamp posts mady by Osuuskunta Lasismi guide the traveler along the 650-meter journey from the Glass Museum to the Old Glass Factory. There, Osuuskunta Lasismi and glass studio Mafka & Alakoskimaintain the tradition of mouth-blown glass and manufacture art and consumer glass.

If the doors are open, you can stop by the glass studios to watch a glassblower at work. Glassblowing is fascinating and exciting to watch. The studios also offer experience evenings where participants can design and blow their own unique glass object.

4. Finnish Glass Biennale is an international glass event

Riihimäki will host the first-ever international Finnish Glass Biennale from 5th until the 8th of June 2025. The biennal is a versatile event for lovers of glass art and cultural tourism.

The Biennale is an experiential event where visitors can see the different ways glass can be used and what it can do in the hands of artists and designers. The aim of the event is to raise Finnish glass design to international awareness.

The event week program includes exhibitions, seminars, expert visits and events in Riihimäki, Iittala and Nuutajärvi. During the event, a free bus will run from Riihimäki railway station to the museum and the Old Glass Factory every half hour.

Children can experience the magic of glass on Tuesday, June 3rd with story-based animal tours into the world of glass birds and unicorns. Adults can blow their own vase or glass with the help of a glassblower.

Check out the video to see what glass artists Kari Alakoski and Marja Hepo-aho think about glass art and its diverse possibilities.