Very Finnish Problems Episode 1: How Finnish Winter Tries To Kill You

ByVery Finnish Problems April 26, 2017August 28, 2026

Just how deadly is a typical winter in Finland? Very Finnish Problems creator and Helsinki resident Joel Willans discusses survival strategies with Ink Tank writer Thomas Nybergh. We learn that Thomas rarely leaves Helsinki and that Joel feels bad about sucking at winter sports.

Contact: veryfinnishproblems@inktank.fi

Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media

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Finland
The 5 most fascinating facts from Crowst’s Finnish sausage survey
ByJoel Willans October 20, 2017August 28, 2026
A man enjoys a classic Finnish grilled sausage outdoors. What is it with Finns, grilled sausages and summer? Every Friday night you’ll find hordes of people queuing up at the grilli for a taster. You’ll find sausages at hockey matches, being sizzled at the summer cottage, feasted on at picnics and parties. Amazingly, every Finnish…
Read More The 5 most fascinating facts from Crowst’s Finnish sausage survey
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Finland can be difficult to understand without speaking Finnish or Swedish. To provide perspective for Finns, immigrants and foreign Finophiles, we have gathered a list of blogs written in English about life in the north. Taught by Finland The virtues of the Finnish education system are often discussed. Two things are certain. It pays to…
Read More 14 English-language Finnish blogs every Finland-lover should follow
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Almost forever: Finnish artists plan exhibition of 1000-year GIF animation
ByJoel Willans September 22, 2015March 29, 2026
Online culture magazine Hyperallergic reports that Helsinki based artists Juha van Ingen and Janne Särkelä of the FixC cooperative are preparing an exhibit of a 1000-year long animated GIF loop. The work is titled AS Long As Possible (ASLAP). It features 48,140,288 frames as an homage to composer John Cage’s As Slow as Possible. Cage’s…
Read More Almost forever: Finnish artists plan exhibition of 1000-year GIF animation
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A love letter to the city: Beautiful new guidebook shows Helsinki through the eyes of its residents
ByJoel Willans June 21, 2016October 2, 2026
Town planner Patrick Geddes once said a city is a drama in time rather than just a place in space. Following the stories of inhabitants is the best way to understand this drama. This idea drives a new Helsinki guidebook, Helsinki – People Make the City, by New Zealand writer Melanie Dower and photographer Laura…
Read More A love letter to the city: Beautiful new guidebook shows Helsinki through the eyes of its residents
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Meet the Lithuanian pianist whose Finnish cover versions will wow
ByJoel Willans December 21, 2024August 28, 2026
Think of iconic Finnish tunes and you’ll likely choose Sandstorm by Darude, Freestyler by Bomfunk MC’s or In the Shadows by The Rasmus. However, you’re very unlikely to have heard them played on the piano. That will change once you check out the social media channels of Mindaugas Neverovas. The Lithuanian pianist and piano teacher…
Read More Meet the Lithuanian pianist whose Finnish cover versions will wow
Finland
Very Finnish Problems Episode 2: When the summer cottage is more labour camp than holiday camp
ByVery Finnish Problems May 7, 2017August 28, 2026
Are Finnish summer cottages more labour camp than holiday camp? Very Finnish Problems creator and Helsinki resident Joel Willans discusses the Finnish love of forest work with Ink Tank writer Thomas Nybergh. The conversation reveals that Joel is not permitted to use the chainsaw. Thomas admits he has never caught a fish in his life….
Read More Very Finnish Problems Episode 2: When the summer cottage is more labour camp than holiday camp

4 Comments

Jezza says:
April 26, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Lol!! Happy to hear I’m not the only one who can’t stand on ice
Reply
Willi says:
May 2, 2017 at 8:49 am
Spikes on the shoes, big fur hat and ski sticks, thats my advice :)
Reply
Oscar says:
May 5, 2017 at 11:33 am
I totally hear what you guys are saying about cross country skiing. I just can’t get the hang of it at all.
Reply
anguebus says:
May 13, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Going south is a great idea. For about 9 months :) :)
Reply

Very Finnish Problems Episode 1: How Finnish Winter Tries To Kill You

The 5 most fascinating facts from Crowst’s Finnish sausage survey

14 English-language Finnish blogs every Finland-lover should follow

Almost forever: Finnish artists plan exhibition of 1000-year GIF animation

A love letter to the city: Beautiful new guidebook shows Helsinki through the eyes of its residents

Meet the Lithuanian pianist whose Finnish cover versions will wow

Very Finnish Problems Episode 2: When the summer cottage is more labour camp than holiday camp

4 Comments

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Ink Tank

An independent magazine about Finland. Reporting on culture, people and society with curiosity, accuracy and a dry eye.

Quick Links

Top Categories

Recent articles