Open House at the Presidential Palace on 12 December 2009

President Halonen greeting visitors. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The Presidential Palace was open to the public on Saturday, 12 December 2009 starting at noon. Tours begun at the Mariankatu entrance and included the State Hall, the Dining Hall, the Hall of Mirrors and the Gothic Hall. Tours ended on the Pohjoisesplanadi side of the palace, where visitors exited via the main gate.

Open House was held to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the presidency. Finland's republican constitution was adopted and the first President of the Republic was elected in July 1919. A booklet on the history of the presidency that was written by Professor Jaakko Nousiainen has been published in honour of the anniversary.

A book on the imperial art collection in the Presidential Palace also came out recently. Most of the paintings in the collection were acquired in the latter part of the 19th century.

• History of the Presidential Palace
• Pictures of the Presidential Palace

 Photos