A new thematic exhibition at the Customs Museum explores the history of Finnish Customs and car ferry traffic. The first ship that could be considered a car ferry heading abroad from Finland left the port of Vaasa in 1958. In the following years, the number of car ferries increased. The traffic soon reached massive proportions as the number of destinations increased and the ships grew in size. The most important ferry destinations from Finland were Sweden and Germany. The 1990s and the new millennium saw the beginning of ferry traffic to Tallinn, Estonia.
From the outset, it was also possible to transport commercial goods subject to customs control. Many remember the passenger control by Finnish Customs, but the tasks of customs officials in ferry harbours extended beyond that. With the rapid growth of ferry traffic, much of Finland's foreign trade moved to the car decks of the ferries. Finnish Customs has been responsible for the control of countless goods-specific regulations.
Since the early days, ferry traffic has become commonplace, something that can be taken for granted. Today, ferries of the Baltic Sea are known for memorable experiences, shopping and entertainment. At the same time, the ferries have been – and continue to be – of enormous importance to the Finnish economy and society. The exhibition showcases a selection of items on loan from the collections of various museums along with unique items connected to customs activities of the past.
Step into the Customs Museum and discover the fascinating history of ferries!
The museum is located on the island of Suomenlinna
Susisaari in Suomenlinna, the Hamilton-Polhem Curtain building, Suomenlinna B 20 D (Google Maps).
HSL ferry
Suomenlinna online guide
Contact information
tel. 040 332 6979 (during the opening hours of the museum)
tel. +358 40 332 2774
Email: tullimuseo(at)tulli.fi
You can contact us for a guided tour during our opening hours either by phone or e-mail: tel. 040 332 6979, e-mail tullimuseo(at)tulli.fi. To avoid overlaps, please contact us at least one week before your intended visit, so we can arrange the time and date of your visit.
Guided tours are arranged also outside our opening hours. Make sure to reserve a time for your visit well in advance, at least two weeks prior.
Guided tours are free of charge. As our exhibition rooms have limited space, the number of visitors in your group should not exceed 25 persons. This is to make sure that all visitors will be able to see and hear our introduction of the Museum well enough. Larger groups can be divided in half, for example by arranging two separate guided tours. The duration of a guided tour is about one hour.
Visitors should note that the area of Suomenlinna is large, and it takes time to move from place to place.
We regret that our museum does not offer unhindered accessibility. There are steps at the museum entrance, and there are thresholds between the museum rooms.