📖 Living in Sweden? Your personal information is public record

When I first moved to Sweden and registered my residence, I was shocked to learn that where I lived—and where everyone else in Sweden lives—is a matter of public record.

With a simple search on websites like hitta.se, eniro.se, and mrkoll.se, anyone can find out where anyone lives. In fact, these websites can even give you more detailed info on the person you are searching for, like how much their house is worth, when their birthday is, when their name day is, if they own a business, who they live with, if they own a car, even if they own a dog!

And I soon learned that this access to information doesn’t stop there. Other information like individual incomes, tax information, and government documents are all freely available to the public upon request.

Why??

But why is Sweden like this? Why can we so easily access information on each other and the government?

It all comes down to the offentlighetsprincipen, or “openness principle. " This fundamental principle is rooted in the idea that an open and transparent government is essential for a functioning democracy, as it allows citizens to hold their elected officials accountable and make informed decisions.

The offentlighetsprincipen applies to all documents held by government agencies, including those related to policy development, decision-making, and the administration of government programs. This includes documents such as meeting minutes, reports, and correspondence. The principle also applies to government-funded organizations, such as universities, hospitals, and municipalities.

But there are some exceptions , such as when access to a document would jeopardize national security or the privacy of individuals.

The offentlighetsprincipen is considered one of the strongest freedom of information laws in the world, and it has played a critical role in promoting transparency and accountability in the Swedish government.

Sweden also has the world’s oldest access to information laws , which forms the foundation for the openness principle. The law, adopted in 1776, established that freedom of the press was an integral part of a functioning democracy, and that the press being able to access documents and archives was an important part of this principle.

Which brings us to today… where you can freely look up how much your coworker makes or if your crush owns a dog 😜.

by Julia Powanda/Riedia

🏠 The ultimate guide to finding a home in Sweden

What can be harder than hiding your address in Sweden? To actually find a place to rent in the first place.

With the rapid population growth in the cities and the lagging construction of new apartments, the rental market in Sweden is facing a shortage. However, don't worry, you're not alone in this challenge.

Uncover the secrets to finding your dream home in Sweden with The Newbie Guide to Sweden 's expert tips and insider information. They have compiled resources covering everything from the normal accommodation price range to the one-year limit of long-term contracts.

Long-term contracts vs. short-term contracts

You will soon notice that it’s easier to get hold of a short-term than a long-term contract. Most Newbies who plan to stay for a longer period will look for something more lasting – no one likes to move every three months. But opting for a short-term contract might have some significant pros – especially at the beginning of your stay in Sweden.

Click here to continue reading the full guide article. Besides the pros and cons of long-term and short-term contracts, you will learn where to find accommodation in Sweden and what to expect.

Write a great rental application

One essential step in the process of getting hold of an apartment or room is to write an outstanding rental application. But how is this done? How do you write an application that will make you stand out from all the other tenants?

Find out how to write an outstanding application . In this article guide, they walk you through the writing process and give you the best tips and tricks that will make your application sparkle and shine.

Who are they?

The Newbie Guide to Sweden is a community of people devoted to creating a guide for all the brave people who come to Sweden every year to start a life here. They have guides on job search, driving with a foreign license, and more. We recommend you check them out if you are new to Sweden.

⚡ Vattenfall: The Swedish energy giant making waves in renewable energy

Vattenfall is a Swedish state-owned energy company, which has been making headlines for its ambitious plans to transition to renewable energy.

Vattenfall was founded in 1909. Today it supplies electricity and heat to more than 5 million customers across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. It is one of the largest energy companies in the Nordics, with a diversified portfolio of energy production, including hydroelectric, nuclear, and fossil fuel-based power generation.

Transition to renewable energy

Vattenfall is making significant investments in renewable energy and aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 .

The company has invested heavily in wind power. It is driving down the cost of wind power with its large-scale wind farms, making it more competitive with fossil fuels.

Additionally, the company is exploring new technologies, such as hydrogen and battery storage, to complement its renewable energy portfolio.

Past controversies

While Vattenfall has made significant progress in transitioning to renewable energy, the company has also been involved in several controversies in the past.

In 2009, Greenpeace filed a complaint against Vattenfall, accusing it of breaking German environmental laws and harming consumer protection. The German government rejected the complaint, and Vattenfall reached an agreement to end the case.

by Carlos Lago/Riedia, Xuecong Liu/Riedia