Flying flags in the City of Stockholm

The City of Stockholm’s flagpoles

The City’s official flagpoles are located at the City Hall, on Gustav Adolfs Torg and Norrmalmstorg, and on Norrbro (summer months). By the City Hall, there are flagpoles along Hantverkargatan, on the Honnörstrappan steps in Stadshusparken, and the two large so-called “parade flagpoles” on the eastern side of the building. There is a façade flag on the City Hall’s façade facing Hantverkargatan.

Below is a description of flying the flag on the City of Stockholm’s official flagpoles. In addition to these flagpoles, some belong to individual city district departments, specialist departments and companies. These flagpoles are located, for example, outside departmental buildings and at the City’s operations such as museums, swimming pools and sports halls, and usually display the flag of St. Erik or specific company flags, unless there is a special event at the location in question or in connection with a special event.

How the City of Stockholm flies flags

The City of Stockholm’s official flag-flying takes place at three different levels – full flagging, City Hall flagging and flagging on the Honnörstrappan steps.

Public flag days

On public flag days, full flagging applies, i.e. Swedish flags are raised around the City Hall, on Gustav Adolfs Torg and Norrmalmstorg, and on Norrbro (summer months). Public flag days are:

• 1 January, New Year’s Day (including the parade flagpoles)
• 28 January, the King’s name day
• 12 March, the Crown Princess’s name day
• Easter Sunday
• 30 April, the King’s birthday
• 1 May, May Day
• 29 May, Veterans Day
• Whit Sunday
• 6 June, National Day (including the parade flagpoles)
• Midsummer’s Day
• 14 July, the Crown Princess’s birthday
• 8 August, the Queen’s name day
• Election day (in election years)
• 24 October, United Nations Day
• 6 November, Gustavus Adolphus Day
• 10 December, Alfred Nobel Day (including the parade flagpoles)
• 23 December, the Queen’s birthday
• 25 December, Christmas Day.

Nordic national days, Europe Day and St. Erik celebrations

On Nordic national days, Europe Day and in connection with St. Erik celebrations, the flag is flown with the Swedish flag and the other flag alternating, in accordance with the City Hall flagging procedure.

Nordic national days, Europe Day and St. Erik celebrations

• 9 May, Europe Day (every other flag the EU flag)
• 17 May, National Day of Norway (every other flag the Norwegian flag)
• 18 May (or adjacent day), St. Erik (every other flag the flag of St. Erik)
• 5 June, Denmark’s Constitution Day (every other flag the Danish flag)
• 17 June, National Day of Iceland (every other flag the Icelandic flag)
• 6 December, Finland’s Independence Day (every other flag the Finnish flag).

National minorities’ days

On the days celebrating national minorities, flags are flown on the Honnörstrappan steps with Swedish flag and the Sami, Sweden Finnish, Roma and Tornedaler flags respectively. The Jewish minority does not have an established day or flag and is therefore not acknowledged in this way.

The national minorities’ days are

• 6 February 6, Sami National Day
• 24 February, Sweden Finns Day
• 8 April, International Roma Day
• 15 July, Tornedalers Day.

Pride festival and events

During the Pride festival, flags are flown at the City Hall with the rainbow flag alternating with the flag of St. Erik around the City Hall, around the clock. Flags can also be flown at the City Hall on other very special occasions when there are larger events with a major impact on the cityscape and where the City is playing a significant role. On such occasions, the flag of St. Erik alternates with the event flag on the flagpoles around the City Hall.

Official visits

In connection with state visits, full flagging applies, including the parade flagpoles, as well as on extra flagpoles positioned along the route of the cortege around the Palace and on Norrbro, according to practice. If a state visit coincides with a national minority day, the City Hall "Honnörstrappan" steps are exempted.

Other reasons to fly the Swedish flaggs

• During mayoral visits and equivalent, the flag can be flown with the Swedish flag and the guest’s flag on the City Hall "Honnörstrappan" steps.
• Special events linked to the official Sweden or the City of Stockholm
• In connection with special events (such as events at the Royal Court) of national interest, full flagging applies, although not on the parade flagpoles.
• In connection with events that require the holding of a minute’s silence and mourning (half-mast), the basic approach is that flagging is limited to the Honnörstrappan steps, unless the day coincides with a public flag day. In this case, all flags must be lowered.
• The City Hall’s façade flag is raised and lowered every day.

On flag days, Swedish and other national flags are raised and lowered in the morning and evening according to practice. At other times, the following applies: Swedish pennants hang at Hantverkargatan. The flag of St. Erik and the EU flag at the Honnörstrappan steps. All flagpoles on Norrmalmstorg, Gustav Adolfs Torg and Norrbro have Swedish pennants.