Latest news with #Trädgården
Local Sweden
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Why Sweden and Denmark are going different ways on work permits
This week: Why Denmark, in contrast to Sweden, is making work permits easier to get. Also: has Ulf Kristersson's government been a success? For Membership+ subscribers: why was hate crimes probe dropped into 'hanging Jews' protest, plus: are killjoy nimbies killing Stockholm's nightlife? Advertisement In this week's episode we bring in The Local's Denmark editor, Michael Barrett, to talk about why Denmark is liberating its work permit rules at the same time as Sweden is tightening up. And we assess Sweden's big political experiment: a centre-right government backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. Three years on, how has it been working? For Membership+ subscribers, we look at why a Swedish prosecutor dropped a hate crimes investigation into an artist who hung dolls dressed in striped concentration camp uniforms. And finally, we talk about how noise complaints from neighbours are threatening to close down the Trädgården nightclub in Stockholm. Are killjoy nimbies making the capital boring? Host Richard Orange is joined this week by The Local's publisher James Savage and our Denmark editor Michael Barrett. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Work Permits Politics Hate crimes Nightlife You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Advertisement Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription.
Local Sweden
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Threat to Stockholm nightclub sparks killjoy row
The threatened closure of a classic Stockholm outdoor nightclub after complaints from neighbours has sparked cross-party concern that the Swedish nightlife is being strangled by an unholy alliance of killjoy nimbies and bureaucrats. Advertisement The Trädgården nightclub, which has occupied a site under a flyover on Södermalm since 2009 and which welcomed 300,000 revellers last year, has had its planning permission rescinded by a government agency after complaints from neighbours. The threatened closure of Trädgården is one in a series of decisions that critics say threaten the vibrancy of Swedish nightlife. In May an appeals court in Gothenburg ruled that bars without an indoor dining area could not be granted an alcohol licence. The decision threatens to put the country's growing number of outdoor bars out of business. Now a coalition of politicians, musicians and ordinary Stockholmers are trying to save Trädgården, giving rise to a debate about whether enough is being done to protect Stockholm's - and Sweden's - nightlife . Over 50,000 people have signed a petition to save Trädgården, among them singer Veronica Maggio. The club's original planning permission was granted on a temporary basis in 2009 and renewed periodically since then. It was granted permanent planning permission by Stockholm City Council in April, despite the council's own planning experts advising against it. Irritated neighbours complained to the Stockholm County Administrative Board, which represents the central government in Stockholm, and planning permission was rescinded. According to the County Administrative Board, Trädgården is located in an area earmarked for harbour activities, not nightlife, and the planning permission was therefore invalid. Advertisement Yet according to newspaper Dagens ETC, of 114 local residents contacted by the council's planning department, only two were against extending the club's planning permission. Comments on social media questioned why people had moved to a vibrant part of the city if they couldn't hack the noise. Politicians from across the political spectrum - apart from the Sweden Democrats - have spoken out in favour of Trädgården being allowed to remain open. Left Party leader Nooshi Dagostar has been snapped wearing a 'Bevara Trädgården' ('Save Trädgården') t-shirt. Locally, Christofer Fjellner, leader of the centre-right opposition Moderate Party on Stockholm council said in a Facebook post that the County Administrative Board was trying to 'create a quieter, more desolate Södermalm'. 'Stockholm needs urban joy! It doesn't only make our city more fun, it creates growth and safety. [Trädgården] has transformed a previously desolate and unsafe place into a unique institution that reaches far beyond Stockholm.' He also said that venues like Trädgården were important in persuading tech talent to choose Stockholm over places like Berlin. Social Democrat councillor Jan Valeskog, responsible for planning issues, said to Svenska Dagbladet that it was 'very regrettable' that the County Administrative Board had denied planning permission. 'There are grounds for the government to consider how they want government agencies to act over issues like this.' Other politicians have gone further, with local Moderate Party politician Rebecca Nordin calling for the County Administrative Board itself to be abolished. Trädgården has appealed the decision to the courts. Meanwhile, the government has proposed to scrap the law that requires bars to have indoor seating and to serve food.
