Could you have imagined that Nybroviken was once much wider? It stretched all the way north to what is now Stureplan. Today, we’re standing at a point with a rich history. Nybroviken translates to “New Bridge Bay”. It’s a fitting name.
Nybroviken separates Östermalm from Blasieholmen. Berzelii Park and Norrmalmstorg lie to the north. To the south, Nybroviken connects to Ladugårdslandsviken. Strandvägen and Nybrokajen face these bays.
Back in the 17th century, Nybroviken was known as Ladugårdslandsviken. This name came from Ladugårdslandet. That was the historical name for Östermalm. It was a rural area back then. Two water courses emptied into the bay. One was Träskrännilen. This strait connected Nybroviken to the historical lake Träsket. Today, it would be along Birger Jarlsgatan. It marked the border between Norrmalm and Östermalm.
Archaeological digs in the 20th century found ships under today’s streets. These streets are now far from the water. The strait and the lake disappeared due to land filling around 1880. The second water course was Näckströmmen. It separated Blasieholmen from the mainland. In the mid-17th century, it was about 20 metres wide. A bridge called Näckebro crossed it. Land filling consumed it within a century.
In the 18th century, the innermost part of Nybroviken was called Packartorgsviken. This was after the earlier version of Norrmalmstorg square. Land fillings and garbage turned it into standing water. The quays became filthy. A map from 1780 shows only one usable landing bridge.
In 1816, Carl Christopher Gjörwell was tasked to redesign the quays. But the plans were only partly completed. Packartorgsviken became smaller and swampier. People called it Katthavet. Katt means something small and false. So it meant a small and insignificant body of water.
Oddly, Katthavet remained popular for fishing and rowing. This was despite the fact that it was used for cleaning clothes. Even the cholera outbreak of 1834 didn’t spur sanitary action.
In 1837, plans were made for a new bridge. It would commemorate King Charles XIV’s arrival. The bay north of the bridge was filled in. The bridge became a quay. Fredrik August Lidströmer designed the bridge. Work began in 1838 and finished in 1849. In 1852, the area was transformed into Berzelii Park. The park was named after Jöns Jacob Berzelius.
In 1864, the city council wanted to fill in the entire bay. August Blanche led protests against this plan. In 1867, the council changed its mind. They proposed a 395-metre long quay instead. A statue of John Ericsson was placed on the quay in 1901. John Börjeson created it. In 1987, part of the quay was renamed for Raoul Wallenberg.
Today, Nybroviken is a departure point for ferries. They go to Djurgården and the Stockholm Archipelago. Nybrokajen borders Berzelii Park and Raoul Wallenberg Square. Several ships dock here. You can find ships from Strömma Kanalbolaget and Waxholmsbolaget.
Along Nybrokajen stand interesting buildings. These include Tullhuset, Hotel Strand, and Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien. The Nobel Center is planned for this area.
Once a place for fishermen and markets, Nybroviken has transformed over centuries. From a wide bay to a smaller one. It became a central hub in Stockholm. Its story is one of change, adaptation, and enduring importance.