Hälleforsnäs is a locality in Flen Municipality in Södermanland County. This is a settlement in eastern Sweden that has developed with the former ironwork at its center. The foundry here was once one of the largest ones in northern Europe. Today the ironwork is quiet, but the locality has survived and has today a population of around 1600 inhabitants.
Hälleforsnäs is also mentioned in Jonas Jonasson’s book The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. In the story, the centenarian works at the ironwork here.
A Short History of Hälleforsnäs
The ironwork Hälleforsnäs Järnbruk was founded in 1659. Its founder was Polish mining entrepreneur Abine Noy who had received the rights to build an ironworks for the production of artillery cannons. The production of canons ended in the 19th century and the production was switched to more civilian products. It did, however, stay as the locality’s largest employer until the 1970s. Most of the production was decommissioned in 1997.
Smaller manufacturing companies did thereafter try to save parts of the production, but the foundry was finally closed in 2010. A large part of the industrial site has since been demolished and part of what is still standing has been turned into a commercial area with Lager 157 opening its clothing store in 2008. Lager 157 has since moved on to Eskilstuna.
Things to Do and See
Hälleforsnäs is in the middle of forests with many lakes hidden below the tree branches. Bruksdammen is one of the largest lakes closest to the center. The center includes a grocery store and a few restaurants. The industrial site is, however, the most distinguishable sight in the area, especially if you want to explore Sweden’s industrial heritage.
Hälleforsnäs Bruk
This is the former industrial site which in parts has been demolished. Other parts have been turned into shops and restaurants creating a cultural center in what was once an ironworks. The old manor house from the 1750s is still standing at the outskirt of the site. The old stable from around 1850, which since 1920 has been a residential building, burned down in 2020.
Hälleforsnäs Church
The church here dates to 1966. It is a white concrete church that today is a part of Mellösa Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Abine Noijs Park
Abine Noijs Park is a park area right next to the old industrial site. It is a park with sculptures that are inspired by the industrial heritage of the area.
How to Get to Hälleforsnäs
- Flights: Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO) is 60 kilometers to the south.
- Car: Hälleforsnäs is on countryside roads north of Flen.
- Bus: Buses from Sörmlandstrafiken connect Hälleforsnäs with the surrounding region.
- Train: Trains from Mälartåg has one route which stops in Hälleforsnäs. This is the line between Linköping and Uppsala, with stops in places such as Norrköping, Flen, Eskilstuna, Västerås, and Sala.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 120 kilometers (1 h 43 min)
- Gothenburg – 387 kilometers (4 h 12 min)
- Malmö – 530 kilometers (5 h 33 min)
- Linköping – 119 kilometers (1 h 33 min)
- Kiruna – 1276 kilometers (15 h 57 min)
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