User:Josefine Hellroth Larsson (WMSE)/Allotments in Stockholm

In Stockholm, organised allotments were constructed for the first time around 1906. Anna Lindhagen was the person behind this project. Among the first allotments being built was Söderbrunns koloniområde at Norra Djurgården, opened in 1905 and still in use.

The allotment movement generally took inspiration from Germany, but in Stockholm, Copenhagen was the role model. The movement around allotments has gone through several changes: from contributing to public health and growing vegetables to ensure produce during times of crisis, to being a recreational spot for stressed urban citizens.

Despite some allotments disappearing and others being threatened by demolition, new allotments have been built throughout the 20th century. In 2010, there were around 10 000 allotments in around 150 allotment areas in the Stockholm area. The largest one is Skarpnäck allotment in the southern parts of Stockholm, containing 554 allotments. The most recent one is Årstafältets koloniområde opened in September, 2003.