Sandhamn
| Sandhamn | |
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Sandhamn,
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 Sandhamn
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| Coordinates: 59°17′20.55″N 18°54′54.40″E / 59.2890417°N 18.9151111°E | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Municipality | Värmdö Municipality |
| County | |
| Province | Uppland |
| Founded | Before 1280 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.27 km2 (0.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2005-12-31) | |
| • Total | 108 |
| • Density | 407/km2 (1,050/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Website | www.sandhamn.se |
Sandhamn (Swedish for "Sand Harbour") is a small settlement in the central-peripheral part of the in central-eastern Sweden, approximately 50 km (30 mi) east of . Sandhamn is located on the island Sandön ("Sand Island"), which is, however, colloquially referred to as Sandhamn.
One of the most important natural ports in the archipelago with easy access to the Swedish capital, Sandhamn has been popular for pleasure boating since the late 19th century. It is known for its tavern, its clubhouse, and its harbour.
While the settlement only has a hundred permanent inhabitants, the number of residents increases to 2-3,000 during the summer. Sandhamn receives an additional 100,000 visitors annually. Most of the inhabitants are entrepreneurs but many also have regular jobs. For example, two of the major employers on the island, other than the restaurants and bed & breakfasts, are the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket) and the local police force.
The harbor can receive 350 ships, while up to 150 boats can be moored on the neighboring island Lökholmen. Sandhamn is connected to the mainland by ferry lines departing from Stavsnäs and .
Sandhamn is the scene for the sailing race Round Gotland Race covering two days, the most prestigious race in the Baltic Sea and have an average of around 300 participating sailing boats, as well as hundreds of spectators invading Sandhamn in the beginning of July each year.
The island of Sandön is first mentioned in historical records in the 1280s when King Magnus Barnlock donated it to the abbey of St Claire in Stockholm together with the islands Runmarö Skarpprunmarn, Vindalsö, and Eknö. The island is possibly described in a travel account by Valdemar Sejr in the mid-13th century. Until the 16th century, Sandhamn is mentioned as Svenska Sandön ("Swedish Sand Island") and is said to belong to the Eknö by village. At that time, the island was most likely uninhabited and mostly used for pasturage by inhabitants on the surrounding islands. No later than the 17th century, the inhabitants of Eknö had maritime piloting as a by-income, but, as the navigable strait passing by Sandhamn was restricted to the Swedish Navy and ships going to Estonia and Latvia, a single pilot was settled on the island by the end of that century.
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Wikipedia