When we talk about the plans for Hasselbacken’s development, I am reminded of a photo I took for an ad many years ago. And I think about how current it is once again. The pandemic restrictions have eased off, we get to meet again and at the historic Hasselbacken, the ambition is to go from being a conference facility to the meeting place it once was – to become an entertainment palace once again.
What would we have had left?
A restaurant like Hasselbacken, which was established in the 18th century, has a lot of stories to tell. Like when the author Strindberg posed as a model for the Bellman statue, about seven horrible fires, about guests and parties, about good food, and of course about when the classic Swedish dish the Hasselbacks’ potatoe was created.
One thing is for sure, there would not have been a Hasselbacken to visit today if there had not been people who dared to invest, build, and develop through the centuries.
A new chapter
A new chapter is about to be written and in 2022, about 260 years after the opening of Hasselbacken, further investments are being made – this time by Pop House and 3E Entertainment. Ingmari Pagenkemper, head of Pophouse Djurgården, describes the vision in today’s newspaper DN “Whether it has been Midsummer’s Eve, Easter or some other holiday, people have gathered here to celebrate and we want to become that meeting place once again.”
I find it exciting. And I agree. Djurgården is fantastic and we will maintain the tradition of constantly evolving. Add new annual rings to the old ones – and open our doors again and welcome everyone to the party.
It’s time to jump off the couch, meet up and dare to look forward.
Thank you to all of you who have the courage to invest in Hasselbacken.
Camilla Zedendahl, CEO
Kungliga Djurgårdens Intressenter (The Royal Djurgården Society)