Independence Day brings flurry of demonstrations to Helsinki

Finland marks its 108th year of independence on Saturday.

Photo shows protestors clashing with police. — Last year's Independence Day saw clashes on the streets of Helsinki between police and protesters. Image: Benjamin Suomela / Yle

Yle News

5.12.2025 14:45Updated 6.12.2025 10:38

This year's Independence Day in Finland will feature the usual ceremonial staples alongside a series of demonstrations and marches.

Helsinki's Independence Day programme follows a familiar rhythm:

The Defence Forces lay wreaths in Hietaniemi cemetery at 10.30am
An ecumenical service at noon in Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral
A Catholic procession sets off at noon from Meilahti, passing Parliament before heading on to St Henry's Cathedral in Kaivopuisto
University students stage their traditional torchlit march at 4pm, travelling from Hietaniemi cemetery to the Senate Square and saluting the president en route
The presidential Independence Day reception begins at 6.30pm at the Palace
The city hosts a family event at the Oodi library from noon-6pm

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Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

All Points North takes a look at Finland's diminishing population of war veterans and hears about how they impacted Finnish society as well as efforts to preserve their history.

Police advise people to avoid Töölöntori

Helsinki is seeing a larger number of Independence Day demonstrations this year. To prevent clashes, the organisers of newly announced rallies have coordinated their start times with nationalist groups already planning to march.

Police have advised the public to steer clear of Töölöntori, warning that marches and other events will make traffic difficult across central Helsinki.

Disturbances are expected later in the evening, particularly in Töölö and around the Töölöntori market square.

Independence Day demonstrations in Helsinki

Noon March for Finland — a nationalist demonstration from Parliament to Hietaniemi Cemetery. The organiser is Sini Ariell, a pin-up model and tattoo artist.
2pm Fixit — A "Finland out of the EU" demonstration, also nationalist in tone, will march from Senate Square to Parliament.
4pm Finland Awakens — a far-right demonstration organised by the Blue-Black Movement, will march from the Railway Square to Parliament.
5pm — A protest against the government's spending cuts will march from Narinkkatori in Kamppi to the Market Square.
6.30pm 612-march — a nationalist procession will travel from Töölöntori to Hietaniemi Cemetery. In past years, far-right groups have also taken part.
5.45pm Helsinki without Nazis demonstration at Töölöntori, although police have yet to receive a formal notice.

Last year, police cordoned off Töölöntori to avoid major confrontations between ideologically opposed groups.

Soggy weather

Finland is expected to see rainy late-autumn weather on Saturday. Yle meteorologist Anniina Valtonen said that the weekend conditions, particularly in southern Finland, will feel more like autumn than winter.

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), 6 December is typically wintry. This year, however, forecasts are calling for rain and sleet over the weekend.

On Independence Day, southern Finland will see substantial rainfall. Around Vaasa and Jyväskylä, it may fall as sleet or snow.

In the north, skies will be overcast on Saturday, with occasional light snow or freezing drizzle.