Hämeenlinna

Hämeenlinna Tavastehus
City
Hämeenlinnan kaupunki Tavastehus stad City of Hämeenlinna
Häme Castle, the most notable attraction in Hämeenlinna.
Coat of arms
Location of Hämeenlinna in Finland
OpenStreetMap Interactive map outlining Hämeenlinna.
Coordinates: 60°59′40″N 24°28′00″E / 60.99444°N 24.46667°E / 60.99444; 24.46667
Country	Finland
Region	Kanta-Häme
Sub-region	Hämeenlinna
Charter	1639
Government
• City manager	Olli-Poika Parviainen
Area  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	2,031.53 km2 (784.38 sq mi)
• Land	1,785.35 km2 (689.33 sq mi)
• Water	245.79 km2 (94.90 sq mi)
• Rank	34th largest in Finland
Population  (2025-06-30)[2]
• Total	68,473
• Rank	15th largest in Finland
• Density	38.35/km2 (99.3/sq mi)
Population by native language [3]
• Finnish	91.9% (official)
• Swedish	0.4%
• Others	7.7%
Population by age [4]
• 0 to 14	14.5%
• 15 to 64	59.3%
• 65 or older	26.2%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	www.hameenlinna.fi

Hämeenlinna (Finnish: [ˈhæmeːnˌlinːɑ]; Swedish: Tavastehus; Karelian: Hämienlinna; Latin: Tavastum or Croneburgum^[6]) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Kanta-Häme. It is located in the southern interior of the country and on the shores of Lake Vanajavesi. The population of Hämeenlinna is approximately 68,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 94,000. It is the 15th most populous municipality in Finland, and the 14th most populous urban area in the country.

Hämeenlinna is the oldest inland city in Finland^[7] and was one of the most important Finnish cities until the 19th century. Hämeenlinna was located in the heart of the historic province of Tavastia. Since then, Hämeenlinna has remained an important regional centre. The medieval Häme Castle (also known as Tavastia Castle) is located in the town.

Hämeenlinna is known as the birthplace of the Finnish national composer Jean Sibelius. It is now part of the Kanta-Häme region and was the residence of the Governor of the province of Southern Finland until 2010. Nearby cities include the capital Helsinki (98 km or 61 mi), Tampere (73 km or 45 mi) and Lahti (72 km or 45 mi), the regional centre of Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme).

The neighbouring municipalities of Hämeenlinna are Akaa, Asikkala, Hattula, Hausjärvi, Hollola, Janakkala, Loppi, Padasjoki, Pälkäne, Tammela, Urjala and Valkeakoski. The former municipalities of Hauho, Kalvola, Lammi, Renko and Tuulos were merged with Hämeenlinna on 1 January 2009;^[8] with these mergers, the municipality of Hattula is almost completely surrounded by Hämeenlinna.

The coat of arms of Hämeenlinna is based on the 17th-century town seal, which in turn refers to the Häme Castle built by the Lake Vanajavesi in the Middle Ages, near which the city was founded. The current coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers on the basis of the old coat of arms, and was confirmed on September 21, 1956.^[9][10]

Vanaja is the name of a settlement next to Vanajavesi that had been in existence since the Viking Age. The Häme Castle was built in the late 13th century by the order of Regent Birger Jarl to secure Swedish power in central Finland. A village was established near Häme Castle to provide services and goods to its inhabitants.

The village was granted city rights as the first inland city in Finland on January 19, 1639 by Count Per Brahe the Younger,^[11] but Hämeenlinna, which still after that looked more like a rural village, developed very slowly, which was a typical problem for inland cities in Finland compared to the most prosperous coastal cities.^[12] In 1777, King Gustav III of Sweden moved it one kilometre (0.6 miles) south to the hill on which it still stands.^[12]

Hämeenlinna has hosted numerous royal and imperial visits, including the visits of the Kings of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus, Adolf Frederick, Gustav III, and Gustav IV Adolf.^[13]

In the summer of 1775, King Gustav III of Sweden made his entry into Häme, accompanied by a splendid retinue of a hundred courtiers. He lodged in the commandant’s quarters of the castle, marking the first of several royal visits. When he returned in 1783, the occasion was commemorated with wrought-iron pennants, which still crown the roof of the castle today. Deeply fascinated by the discipline of arms, Gustav III also frequented the nearby field at Parola, where in 1785 and again in 1787 he personally observed his soldiers’ parade drills and martial exercises.^[13]

The Napoleonic Wars came to an end in 1815. Earlier, in 1809, Finland had been incorporated into the Russian Empire as an autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. Emperor Alexander I, who also bore the title of Grand Duke of Finland, subsequently found the time to undertake a comprehensive journey through his new dominion. On 9 September, he arrived in Hämeenlinna, where he spent the night.^[14]

The period of the Grand Duchy of Finland represented a favorable epoch in the development of Hämeenlinna. Already during the Swedish era, King Gustav III had resolved to relocate the town center to the site of the present-day Market Square.^[15]

The conflagration that later devastated Hämeenlinna in 1831 provided the impetus for architect Carl Ludvig Engel to devise an Empire-style town plan for the city, distinguished by broad thoroughfares and regularly arranged, square-shaped blocks. Hämeenlinna evolved into a quintessential example of an Empire-style town, both in its urban plan and in its architecture.^[15]

Hämeenlinna had long functioned as a significant garrison town; however, under the Grand Duchy, new barracks of red brick were constructed both in the immediate vicinity of Häme Castle and along the city’s western periphery.^[15]

In the aftermath of the Crimean War, Finland’s first railway line - linking Helsinki and Hämeenlinna - was inaugurated on 17 March 1862. Conceived initially for military purposes, the line facilitated the rapid and efficient transfer of troops from Hämeenlinna to the capital in the interest of coastal defense.^{[16][17][18][15]}

In 1863, Emperor Alexander II of Russia, who also held the title of Grand Duke of Finland, visited Hämeenlinna. On 1 August, during his stay, he signed at the Hämeenlinna Governor's Palace a historic decree that established the Finnish language as equal in status to Swedish within the Grand Duchy of Finland.^[15]

The completion of the railway also served as a catalyst for Hämeenlinna’s industrialisation. As early as 1851, a brewery and distillery had been founded in the town. In 1895, the textile manufactory known as Verkatehdas was established, and over the course of independent Finland it would grow into one of the leading enterprises of its sector.^[15]

The advent of the railway further encouraged the development of steamship traffic on Lake Vanajavesi, enhancing Hämeenlinna’s role as a regional hub of transport and commerce.^[15][19]

In 1873, the Hämeenlinna Lyceum was opened. Across successive decades, this institution produced a number of distinguished figures in Finland’s cultural and political life, including the future President Juho Kusti Paasikivi, the poet Eino Leino, and the composer Jean Sibelius.^[20][19]

At the same time, Hämeenlinna was home to a deeply rooted manor culture dating back centuries. This tradition was elevated to new heights by the arms manufacturer Hugo Robert Standertskjöld, who acquired Karlberg Manor (present-day Aulanko) and transformed it into a remarkable architectural ensemble of considerable distinction.^[21][19]

During the Finnish Civil War in 1918, Hämeenlinna was initially in the area controlled by the Reds, but the Whites captured the city with the help of the Germans in the Battle of Hämeenlinna.^[22] After the war, the Hämeenlinna prison camp established for red prisoners operated in the Poltinaho barracks area, and it was known as one of the most notorious high-discipline camps in the history of the Civil War, where female prisoners were also kept.^[23] By mid-September, over 2,000 Red prisoners died in the prison camp,^[24] mainly for communicable diseases such as smallpox, scarlet fever, typhus and Spanish flu.^[25]

In 1918, industrialist Carl Wilhelm Rosenlew purchased the Äikäälä estate, where he had Vanajanlinna Manor built in the early 1920s. The architect was Sigurd Frosterus. Vanajanlinna was constructed as a hunting lodge, where members of the Finnish elite such Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Per Evind Svinhufvud, Karl Fazer, and Risto Ryti, gathered to spend their leisure time. In terms of size, style, and architecture, Vanajanlinna is an impressive manor by Finnish standards.^[26]

After World War II, Hämeenlinna underwent significant transformation as Finland shifted from a wartime economy to peacetime recovery. The city experienced substantial reconstruction efforts, which included the renovation of damaged infrastructure and the development of new housing to accommodate returning soldiers and their families.^[27]

Häme County received 73,812 war refugees from Karelia. Of all the war refugees, 90 percent were Finns. Hämeenlinna specifically welcomed these refugees, and the Ojoinen Borough was constructed to accommodate them.^{[28][29][30][31]}

Post-war period saw an increase in population as people moved to Hämeenlinna for job opportunities in various sectors. Hämeenlinna also embraced industrialisation during this era, with manufacturing becoming a cornerstone of its economy. The city’s strategic location facilitated trade and transport, further promoting economic development.^[27]

The establishment of educational institutions, such as the Häme University of Applied Sciences, contributed to the city's growth and modernisation. Additionally, cultural initiatives flourished, with museums and theaters enhancing the local cultural landscape. The Artillery Museum of Finland, which opened in 1997, became a key attraction, showcasing the military history and heritage of the region.^{[32][33][34][35]}

The Prime Ministers and ministers of Finland and Sweden gathered for a historic and joint meeting in Hämeenlinna in 2009.^[36]

There are a total of 339 lakes in whole or in part in the area of the city of Hämeenlinna. The largest of them are Lake Vanajavesi, Lake Kukkia and Lake Kuohijärvi.^[37] The main features of the Hämeenlinna landscape are the Häme Lake Plateau, the Vanajavesi Valley and the Kanta-Häme Grove Center. In many places, the landscapes are marked by the prosperous Tavastian agricultural culture.^[38][39]

The city has several nature reserves, the largest of which are located in the popular recreation areas of Aulanko and Ahvenisto on the outskirts of the city. In total, there are 31 Natura 2000 areas in the city of Hämeenlinna.^[40] In addition, Hämeenlinna has Finland's first national urban park, established in 2001.^[41]

The center of Hämeenlinna is located on the Saarinen Hill on the shores of Lake Vanajavesi, and is bordered on the west by Highway 3 (E12), while Highway 10 bypasses the city to the south and east.^[44]

The street network in the center is based on a grid pattern drawn up by Carl Ludvid Engel in 1832 with the Market Square as its center.^[44]

On the edge of the market square are the town hall, Hämeenlinna Church and the Häme County Government House.^[45] The city center is divided into four districts, which are Linnanniemi, Koilliskulma, Hämeensaari and Saaristenmäki.^[46]

Raatihuoneenkatu, which has been partially transformed into a pedestrian street, is the most significant shopping street in the city center; for example, at the western end of the street, the Goodman Shopping Center was completed in October 2014.^[46]

There are plenty of buildings of different styles in the city center, and in proportion to the city's population, it is quite large and densely built. The most significant expansion direction in the city center in the 2010s has been the Keinusaari district on the other side of Lake Vanajavesi, where, for example, the city's railway station is located.

Supplementary construction has also been carried out in the city center on an ongoing basis. The center of Hämeenlinna has been ridiculed as the "Finland's largest lit cemetery".^[47]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1815	1,668	—
1850	2,581	+1.26%
1870	3,065	+0.86%
1890	4,644	+2.10%
1910	6,376	+1.60%
1920	6,735	+0.55%
1930	8,500	+2.35%
1939	9,824	+1.62%
1972	58,030	+5.53%
1980	59,224	+0.25%
1990	61,222	+0.33%
2000	63,033	+0.29%
2010	66,829	+0.59%
2020	67,848	+0.15%
Source: Tilastollinen päätoimisto,[48] Statistics Finland (1972-2020)[49]

The city of Hämeenlinna has 68,473 inhabitants, making it the 15th most populous municipality in Finland. The Hämeenlinna region has a population of 93,816.

Population size of Hämeenlinna (and merged municipalities) 1990–2020^[49]

Year	Population
1990	61,222
1995	62,080
2000	63,033
2005	64,271
2010	66,829
2015	68,011
2020	67,848

Hämeenlinna is a monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality. As of 2024^[update], the majority of the population, 62,880 persons (91.9%), spoke Finnish as their first language. In addition, the number of Swedish speakers was 272 persons (0.4%) of the population. Foreign languages were spoken by 7.7% of the population.^[50] As English and Swedish are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

At least 40 different languages are spoken in Hämeenlinna. The most common foreign languages are Estonian (0.7%), Russian (0.7%), Ukrainian (0.7%), Arabic (0.7%) and Persian (0.5%).^[50]

Population by country of birth (2024)[50]
Nationality	Population	%
Finland	63,290	92.5
Soviet Union	592	0.9
Estonia	417	0.6
Sri Lanka	328	0.5
Ukraine	276	0.4
Iraq	260	0.4
Turkey	220	0.3
Afghanistan	207	0.3
Sweden	195	0.3
Poland	188	0.3
Thailand	171	0.2
Other	2,289	3.3

As of 2024^[update], there were 5,308 persons with a foreign background living in Hämeenlinna, or 8% of the population.^{[note 1]} The number of residents who were born abroad was 5,143, or 8% of the population. The number of persons with foreign citizenship living in Hämeenlinna was 3,809. Most foreign-born citizens came from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Sri Lanka and Ukraina.^[50]

The relative share of immigrants in Hämeenlinna's population is below to the national average. However, the city's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

In 2023, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the largest religious group with 67.8% of the population of Hämeenlinna. Other religious groups accounted for 2.5% of the population. 29.7% of the population had no religious affiliation.^[52]

In Hämeenlinna during the 1600s and 1700s, industry was initially very limited and focused on craftsmanship. The town was quite quiet and small at the time, with few inhabitants, so the work of artisans largely consisted of repair and maintenance. For example, in 1661, Hämeenlinna had a few tailors, shoemakers, pistol smiths, goldsmiths, glassmakers, wheelwrights, and saddlers. Additionally, a few carpenters and masons were part of the town’s landscape. The production of the craftsmen was mainly local and small-scale.^[53]

An essential livelihood in the town during the 1600s was the markets, which were held regularly, especially around Saint Olaf’s Day in July and during the winter markets. At market times, many people gathered in Hämeenlinna, and the production and sale of beer were significant sources of income. Tavern keeping and the production of spirits were also important means of livelihood. In the mid-1700s, a guild system began to form, showing the development of craft professions.^[53]

Industry in Hämeenlinna began to slowly develop toward the end of the 1700s. In 1761, a flax factory was established where various fabrics were woven; this was one of the early attempts to move toward industrial production. This enterprise operated for about a decade but did not ultimately succeed for long. The more extensive industrialisation period began only later in the 1800s.^[53]

Alongside agriculture and craftsmanship, the town’s livelihoods included particularly the cultivation of flax and hemp and the textiles made from them. In the Häme region, including the surroundings of Hämeenlinna, flax cultivation was significant throughout the 1700s. Hämeenlinna’s position as an inland town was seen as important for developing factories, craftsmen, and plantations, even though these forms of industry were slowly adopted in the town.^[53]

In the 19th century, Hämeenlinna had a notable history of distilleries and breweries. The beer brewery in Hämeenlinna was founded by municipal counselor and merchant Johan Fredrik Lönnholtz around 1850. He had started his merchant career in the city in 1838. The brewery was built primarily of wood on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi and was completed by January 1851. Production rights were granted to Lönnholtz in early 1851. Early beers included varieties such as champagne beer, Swedish cellar beer, and Bavarian styles. The brewery quickly became large enough to supply neighboring municipalities, and production volumes steadily increased throughout the decades.^[54][55]

Ownership of the brewery changed hands in 1883 when J. F. Schmausser purchased it. He continued developing the business and obtained new production and sales rights. In 1904, due to the death of Schmausser, the brewery was managed by various parties until new arrangements were made. The brewery operated under different company names until it ceased operations in 1917.^[54]

Regarding distilleries and spirits, in Hämeenlinna, an alcohol serving company was founded in 1885. Around this time, legislation came into effect allowing city councils to prohibit the sale of spirits. The temperance movement spurred strict regulation, leading Hämeenlinna to establish a municipal monopoly on spirit sales in 1904. This monopoly tightly controlled the sale of wines and stronger alcoholic beverages through designated restaurants, which were not allowed to profit from the sales; beverages had to be sold at purchase price.^[54]

This history reflects the growth and regulation of both brewing and spirit production in Hämeenlinna during the 19th century, with notable figures like Lönnholtz founding breweries and later city authorities implementing strict controls on alcohol sales to counter social concerns of the era.^[54]

Hämeenlinna Verkatehdas Oy was founded on February 17, 1895, on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi. Initially, a weaving mill and power plant were built, followed by a spinning mill, repair workshops, and villas for the management. The factory quickly became the city’s most significant industrial site and was a pioneer in introducing electric lighting in Hämeenlinna.^[56]

After the Finnish independence, it grew to become one of the country's largest wool factories. After the World War II, there were up to 1,300 employees working at Verkatehdas, and production reached record levels. In the 1950s, a recession hit the wool industry, which also severely affected Verkatehdas. Like many other struggling factories, it joined Villayhtymä (a conglomerate of textile companies).^[56]

The economic structure of Hämeenlinna is diverse and close to the national average. The majority of jobs, about 75%, are in the service sector, covering, for example, social and health services, administrative and support services, as well as retail. Approximately 21% of jobs are in processing industries, which include manufacturing and construction. The share of primary production, that is agriculture, forestry, and fishing, is about 3%.^[57]

The number of companies in Hämeenlinna in 2023 was 4,915, which is an increase of 919 companies since the beginning of 2013 (3,996), amounting to several billion euros. The growth in turnover per employee stopped in 2017 but turned upward again in 2021, with turnover per employee amounting to 304 thousand euros in 2022. The most important industrial sectors include metal industry and manufacturing.^[57]

Hämeenlinna's goal is to be carbon neutral by 2035. According to the CO2 report, usage-based per capita emissions will decrease by at least 80% from 2010 to 2035, and the remaining 20% of emissions will either be reduced or compensated.^[57]

The general unemployment rate in 2023 was 10.2%.^[57]

Source:^[58]

By number of employees:

• City of Hämeenlinna: 2,490
• State of Finland: 2,480
• Kanta-Häme Hospital District: 1,460
• Ruukki (Rautaruukki Oyj): 1,030
• Huhtamäki Oyj: 700
• HAMK University of Applied Sciences: 510
• Kansanterveystyön ky: 490
• Patria Vehicles Oy: 430
• Konecranes Standard Lifting Oy: 330
• Koulutuskeskus Tavastia: 270
• Aina Group Oyj: 250
• Lindström Oy: 175

In the 2010s, Hämeenlinna became entangled in the controversial Sunny Car Center initiative, collaborating with businessman Markku Ritaluoma in an ambitious attempt to create Europe’s largest car dealership. The project faced persistent challenges and was ultimately abandoned after the cancellation of the essential land sale. In 2023, Ritaluoma received a custodial sentence of two years and six months for multiple counts of aggravated fraud, aggravated debtor dishonesty, and aggravated tax offences. Today, only the advertising tower's base - an estimated €25,000 investment - remains as a tangible testament to the venture. The affair brought considerable embarrassment to the city, provoked widespread national derision, and contributed to turbulence in Hämeenlinna’s municipal politics.^[59]

The MORE business area is a joint project of Hämeenlinna and Janakkala. The municipalities aim to expand the area to 1,000 hectares in size. In 2024, MORE had about 150 companies and around 1,500 employees. A doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa states that the best locations for logistics in the Nordic countries are Oslo in Norway, Stockholm in Sweden, and Hämeenlinna in Finland. Hämeenlinna is located within an hour's drive from Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere. Major ports and airports are nearby. MORE cooperates with Häme University of Applied Sciences and the Tavastia Vocational Education Consortium to ensure the availability of labor.^[60][61][62]

Hämeenlinna is home to HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences' headquarters.^[63] Founded in 1873, Hämeenlinna Lyceum has many cultural influencers. The school is one of the most famous educational institutions in Finland, as many well-known Finns have graduated from the institution; examples include master composer Jean Sibelius and president Juho Kusti Paasikivi.^[20] Hämeenlinna Lyceum has a middle school (grades 7–9) and a high school. Another of the high schools in Hämeenlinna's inner city is Kauriala High School. Hämeenlinna's Lyceum and Kauriala High School were to be combined in the fall of 2018 to form a large high school with more than a thousand students on the Hattelmala campus of the Tavastia Education Consortium.^[64] However, the city council decided to cancel the high school project in the spring of 2018, and the high schools will continue to be separate.^[65]

Hämeenlinna is home to a diverse range of museums, including Häme Castle, Hämeenlinna Art Museum, Iittala Glass Museum, Prison Museum, Skogster Museum (Hämeenlinna City Museum), Birthplace of Jean Sibelius, and Artillery, Engineer and Signals Museum of Finland (Militaria Museum).^[66]

Verkatehdas is a well-known cultural and conference center situated in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Originally a textile factory, it has been repurposed into a versatile venue that hosts a wide range of events and activities.^[67]

BioRex Verkatehdas: This modern cinema, located within the complex, features five screening rooms equipped with advanced technology, including 4K laser projectors and Xpandin 3D capabilities.^[68]

Hämeenlinna Art Museum: Situated in the Verkatehdas area, this museum showcases Finnish and international visual art. It boasts an extensive collection of over 8,000 works and frequently hosts temporary exhibitions.^[69]

Hämeenlinna is emerging as a notable gastronomy destination in Finland, characterized by its diverse culinary offerings and a growing number of high-quality restaurants.^[70]

In the 1980s, the following dishes were named Hämeenlinna's traditional cuisine: as a daily meal, smoked ham and sourdough bread; as a festive meal, the herring wrapped in rye dough or kalaleipä, i.e. "fish bread", buttermilk and beer, and the riistansylttääjän lintupaisti, which is pheasant stuffed with almonds, potato and apple slices.^[71]

• Wanaja Festival is annual music festival held in Linnanpuisto, this event has grown in popularity, showcasing both local and international artists. It attracts large crowds each summer, emphasizing Hämeenlinna's vibrant music scene.^[72]
• Häme Medieval Festival celebrates medieval culture with activities, performances, and markets. It has become a staple event in August, drawing visitors interested in history and reenactments.^[73]

• Elite level ice hockey teams HPK of the SM-liiga and HPK Kiekkonaiset of the Naisten Liiga^[74]
• Football team Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseura plaus in the third-tier Kakkonen, and the women's representative team of Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseura plays in the Naisten Kakkonen.^[75]
• The city hosted the modern pentathlon competition for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.^[76] Athletes stayed in a local hotel.^[77]
• Hämeenlinna hosted the first round of the Underwater Rugby Euroleague in October 2012 and again in 2015.^[78]
• The Ahvenisto Race Circuit, opened in 1967, hosts many motorsport happenings. The following racing legends have competed on the circuit: Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, and Niki Lauda. Track has an FIA Grade 4 license.^[79]
• Steelers Sailbandy (Floorball) Club which play in the F-liiga.^[80]
• Hämeenlinna is the home of Linna Golf [fi], Finland's only PGA European Tour-level golf course, where several prestigious competitions have been played. The course is located in connection with Vanajanlinna Manor.^[81]

• Jouko Ahola (strongman/actor)
• Arthur af Forselles (politician)
• Sigrid af Forselles (sculptor)
• Kaarlo Heiskanen (general)
• Kari Heiskanen (actor)
• Helge Herala (actor)
• Antony Hämäläinen (vocalist)
• Jari Koskinen (minister)
• Johannes Koskinen (minister)
• Eino Leino (poet)
• Elias Lönnrot (author of Kalevala)
• Marko Mäkilaakso (music video and film director)
• Antti Miettinen (NHL player); won a bronze medal with Finland in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
• Victorine Nordenswan (painter)
• Johan Wilhelm Rangell (Prime Minister)
• J. K. Paasikivi (7th President of Finland)
• Kimi Räikkönen (Formula One driver) and Jenni Dahlman (married at Vanajanlinna Manor in 2004)^[82]
• Carl Wilhelm Rosenlew (business magnate and owner of Vanajanlinna Manor)
• Juuse Saros (NHL goaltender)
• Jean Sibelius (composer)
• Hugo Robert Standertskjöld (business magnate and owner of Aulanko)
• Antero Svensson (general)
• Väinö Tanner (geographer)
• Turisas (metal band)
• Fredrika Wetterhoff (teacher and founder of Wetterhoff Craft School)

Hämeenlinna is twinned with:^[83]

Bærum, Norway Celle, Germany Frederiksberg, Denmark Hafnarfjörður, Iceland Tver, Russia Püspökladány, Hungary

Toruń, Poland Uppsala, Sweden Weimar, Germany Tartu, Estonia (partnership) Lucca, Italy

• Aulanko
• Finnish national road 3
• Hämeen Sanomat
• Parola (Hattula)
• Häme Castle
• Lake Vanajavesi
• Lion of Parola
• Parola Tank Museum
• Vanajanlinna Manor

• City of Hämeenlinna – Official Site (in English)
• 1952 Summer Olympics official report (pp. 60–62)
• Häme Castle