Why Sweden's second city was designed to look like Amsterdam and Jakarta
In short: Founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus, Gothenburg was built by Dutch engineers who applied the same urban planning principles used in Amsterdam and Jakarta. This strategic port city, carved into marshland, became a melting pot of Dutch, German, and Scottish influence that defined its unique architectural and industrial identity.
Gothenburg was established in 1621 as a fortified trading colony, strategically positioned at the mouth of the Göta älv to serve as Sweden's primary gateway to the North Sea. Because the chosen site was marshy, the King contracted Dutch planners and engineers who possessed the specialized expertise required to drain the land and construct canals. This resulted in a layout that closely mirrored Dutch cities of the era, including Amsterdam and Batavia, the latter now known as Jakarta.
The city's early governance reflected this international character. By 1641, the city council included four Swedes, three Dutchmen, three Germans, and two Scots. Dutch influence remained so pervasive that Dutch was once proposed as the official language, and the city followed Dutch town laws until 1652. This period of foreign influence was critical to the city's survival, as the original 17th-century structures were largely wooden and prone to destruction, leaving only a few military buildings like Skansen Kronan and the Torstenson Palace as remnants of the founding era.
Beyond its urban design, Gothenburg flourished as a commercial hub, particularly after the 1731 founding of the Swedish East India Company. This trade wealth fueled the construction of grand Neo-Classical stone houses, while the 19th century saw the rise of the distinctive Landshövdingehusen—three-storey buildings with a stone ground floor and two wooden upper levels. Today, the city balances this historical legacy with modern industrial giants like Volvo and a commitment to green space, including the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, which houses 16,000 plant species and holds three stars in the French Guide Rouge.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Gothenburg
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