Almost 70 years ago the pupils of the St. Ursula School in Roermond in Southern Netherlands decided to release 40 balloons to celebrate the birth of Princess Beatrix on 31 January 1938. A strong southerly wind carried two of the balloons to the small village of Kärsämäki in Central Finland. The story of the two balloons became world news and was published in the New York Times.

70 years later the story of the two balloons is again topical. The village of Kärsämäki is planning a ‘Queen’s lodge’ on the spot where the balloons landed. The project which goes by the name of Kuningattaren niittymaja – het Buitenhuisje van de Koningin is to bring the Kärsämäki villagers and Dutch tourists together. Every summer thousands of Dutch tourists pass through the region on their way to Lapland. This lodge and the nearby farms, which provide accommodation, could be a good place to stop on the way.

Last February a small delegation from Kärsämäki visited Roermond and met with the mayor of Roermond and Mrs. Greta Timmerman-van Ass. Mrs. Timmerman-van Ass is one of the girls  whose balloon made it all the way to Finland 70 years ago. A visit from Roermond to Kärsämäki is under preparation.

Read more in  Dagblad de Limburger and  Helsingin Sanomat 

More information on the Kuningattaren niittymaja project from:
Mr. Esko Vähätiitto, project coordinator or Ms. Tiina Prittinen, project assistant
Address: Luomajoenkouluntie 38, 86710 Kärsämäki, Finland
Tel. +358-(0)8-773805
E-mail:  syke@kylakeskus.com
 http://www.kylakeskus.com