Whispers of history linger at Husarviken. This narrow inlet on Norra Djurgården in Stockholm holds secrets. It was once a true bay connected to the Baltic Sea and Lilla Värtan. But industrialization in the late 1800s changed everything. Husarviken was partially filled. A new gas plant was built on its southern shore. The once pristine waters became a narrow polluted waterway.
Husarviken’s name comes from a village Husarnä mentioned as far back as 1288. Its pronunciation emphasizes the first syllable. It has nothing to do with hussars the cavalry soldiers. Today Husarviken forms a boundary between Kungliga nationalstadsparken and Norra Djurgårdsstaden. The inner part of Husarviken is marshland. The banks are dense with reeds.
Uggleviken and Laduviken were once bays connected to Husarviken. Now only a narrow outflow from Uggleviken flows under Ugglebacksbron into Husarviken. Fisksjöängen on the northern side of Husarviken is part of Kungliga nationalstadsparken since 1994.
There’s a unique structure on the northern shore. It’s Fisksjöängsladan a barn. Originally it belonged to the Ropsten gamekeeper’s lodge. It was moved to its present location probably in the mid-1800s. Each log is marked. The barn is constructed of upright posts clad in simple rough boards. It has a gambrel roof. It stored feed for the Royal Djurgården deer. Restored today it’s rented to Kajakspecialisten a kayaking company.
Industrial activity around the gasworks polluted the bottom of Husarviken. Mercury and arsenic contaminate the sediment. Since 2011 a large residential area has been built along the southern shore. It sits on the old gasworks site. The first phase south of the inlet’s tip was completed in 2013. By 2019 most of the southern shore was developed. The Norra Djurgårdsstaden project aims to build approximately 5000 homes by 2025.
A pedestrian and cycle bridge opened in 2019 at the inlet to Lilla Värtan. This Husarviksbron is an opening bridge. This allows continued use of the quays inside for sailboats. The bridge represents the transition between city and nature. It’s a subtle yet effective addition to Stockholm’s landscape. Husarviken a testament to both industrial progress and Stockholm’s ongoing evolution.