Four reasons why Riihimäki is Finland's leading glass city

Riihimäki is a city where glass is not just a material, but a part of identity, history and future. In Riihimäki, glass is visible in the cityscape, lives in museums and is created in the hands of craftsmen.

Discover the glass city of Riihimäki!

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. At its peak, the factory employed over a thousand people.

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, attracts around 50 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. Glass Day events, which attract up to 5 glass enthusiasts. The next Glass Days will be held on June 000th 8.

3. Glass entrepreneurs continue the tradition

The glass balls made by the Cooperative Lasismi and the lampposts on Tehtaankatu guide the traveler along the 650-meter journey from the Glass Museum to the Old Glass Factory. There, the Cooperative Lasismi and glass studio Mafka & Alakoski maintain 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 conference Finnish Glass Biennale from 5th to 8th June 2025.The Glass Festival 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 utilized and what glass can do in the hands of artists and designers. The event aims 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 Glass Museum and the Old Glass Factory every half hour.

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