Jakobstad

The majority of the inhabitants speak Swedish as their native language. The town was founded in 1625 in what is now the neighbouring municipality Pedersöre, but postglacial rebound made that harbour too shallow and the town moved towards the new shoreline. The town grew in the 18th century with privileges for international trade. A replica of a ship of that time, Jacobstads Wapen, was built 1988–1994. In 1900 a tobacco factory was the biggest employer. Nowadays the biggest employer is a cellulose and paper factory. There are several smaller businesses, among them Nautor, making world class Swan sailing yachts.

Jakobstad lies at the coast between Vaasa and Kokkola, 8 km from national road 8 (E8), the main road along the Finnish west coast. The main junctions are in Kållby/Kolppi (Edsevö) and Bennäs/Pännäinen, both in Pedersöre. If you prefer small roads you could drive via Munsala and Nykarleby in the south or via Larsmo ("the road of seven bridges") in the north. From the east you can come along road 28 to Kokkola or along road 16 towards Vaasa, turning to road 68 in Alajärvi.

By train:

Some trains between southern Finland and Oulu or Rovaniemi stop at the Jakobstad-Pedersöre 1 railway station in Bennäs, Pedersöre, some 10 km to the south. From there, take the connection bus to Jakobstad. Train tickets to Jakobstad include the connection bus.

By bus:

Buses between Vaasa and Kokkola stop in Jakobstad. The Onnibus route between Turku and Oulu uses the highway stop 2 Edsevö Hotel Polaris, which is 11 km away from the centre. It is possible to transfer for the centre using the stop Edsevö L at road 68, but the schedules are not synchronized.

By plane:

Nordic Regional Airlines flies from Helsinki to Kokkola–Pietarsaari airport (KOK IATA), 30 km from Jakobstad.

City Taxi Jeppis offers airport shuttles for €25–69 from the Kokkola-Jakobstad airport to the centre. Book before 18:00 for the morning flight, before 10:00/17:00 for the day and evening flights.

By boat:

There is a ferry from Umeå, Sweden to Vaasa.

Jakobstad has an archipelago, partly in Larsmosjön. Larsmosjön to the north-east is since long a fresh water basin, separated from the sea by locks. The main marina is on the sea side of the locks.

1 Smultrongrundet marina, ☏ +358 44-723-7940, stefan_kald@hotmail.com. 15 June–9 August. Marina of the sailing club 1.5 km from the centre. Mooring depths 1.8–2.8m. Water, electricity, waste collection, septic tank emptying, fuel, toilet, showers, sauna, laundry, Wi-Fi, playground, beach, restaurant. €15/24h. (updated May 2016)