Stockholm 'no better than Oslo': Norwegian

Ok Norwegians, you have you oil, so let the poor underqualified overtaxed underpayed Stockholmers be.

I just can't believe people care about some self-proclaimed title based on irrelevant statistics.

Also don't understand why this is suddenly a big deal. There have been signs at the highways around Stockholm for years with that "Capital of Scandinavia" nonsense.

I think Stockholm is wonderful, but it is ridiculous to market itself in this fashion. Very insensitive to its neighbors who are equally valuable to the region. The proper thing to do is to stop calling Stockholm the capital of Scandinavia. It is the capital of Sweden, nothing more, nothing less.

I can't believe anyone cares enough to make a report. What a dull little life this man must have.

This sad individual needs to get a life. Been to both Oslo and Stockholm and the latter is much much better and more cosmopolitan. Oslo is like Sheffield while Stockholm is definitely closer to London.

If the Oslovians are so upset, then why don't they market their city as 'Oslo: Capital of the World!'

Norwegian women are better at opening jars.

The Norwegian's are quit right to complain, most people outside of Europe don't even know where Stockholm is. So if they see the slogan "Stockholm the capital of Scandinavia" they will probably believe it. But if they see Stockholm they may wonder why. I thought Oslo was the capital of Europe until I read The Local.

What a poor man the sad individual is. I will rename this article "The cry of an angry bird". He better gets a life on time before it is too late for him.

" I thought Oslo was the capital of Europe until I read The Local" OMG!

Now I am confused. What could it be worse ignorance or arrogance? Yeah, that's right, both!

What's the slogan of Oslo? Do anybody know? A think it's better to have a provocative slogan, which get's attention, than one that nobody know and remenber.

My take on the story is the Norwegian's think Stockholm sucks as bad as Oslo.

I think Oslo can market itself with:

Oslo, Scandinavia's oil Capital. It would be a good marketing for oil industry traders. As, they only can afford to visit Oslo.

And, Stockholm can keep its pride as usual.

Even if Oslo markets itself, not many people flock there. Who would pay twice the price of Sweden and visit Oslo? Actually Sweden seems expensive to many people. Oslo has just Oil and mountains. Nothing more.

@dendrobates

OMG, who's the dummy and has absolutely no sense of humour?

Try reading again.

Oslo can be the gateway to Scandinavia, Stockholm the capital. Seems fair. Copenhagen, capital of legoland? ;)

Well the last two times I was in the tourist centre of Oslo it was an absolute sh!thole to put it mildly.

Against that we have Stockholm the most boring city on the planet which virtually closes its doors at what should be the height of the tourist season.

I think I'll settle for Copenhagen myself,... at least the locals are a bit more friendly.

Stockholm have way better claim than Oslo.

The area have pretty much always been run from Copenhagen or Copengahen and Stockholm, and looking at poulation Stockholm and Copenhagen are far ahead of Oslo and Helsinki, same if you check where international companies put there Nordic HQs.

So Copenhagen have at least as good claim on the title as Stockholm have but Oslo and Helsinki far weaker.

Helsinki is not in Scandinavia. :)

The Oslovians are suffering from inferiority complex when facing the swedes. They have a hard time accepting the fact even though they a lot of oil money and better wages, they are not as popular as the swede. It is just a basic fact, that when people have a lot of money and they are rich, they seek recognition. But how come Sweden is more loved and popular than Norway is nut the Norwegian can't untie and they can't live with it! Until now, i did not know that the swedes are smarter than the norwegian, common norway, gather your folks and decides on a name to market you capital. A hint on that: let it have that word OIL if u must make it effective

Norway just has oil and mountains. What is special visiting place in Norway? After argueing with a friend, I was told it has beautiful nature. It is nt like Sweden. I kept quiet. Bullshit. Just nature? A joke. Nature, wolves and elks?

copenhagen rulez even more

"and doesn't even give out the main Nobel prize, the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in the Norwegian capital of Oslo."

i totally cracked reading this part, as if the pisssss award still got any credibility at this point :D

"Stockholm is far from being centrally located within the Nordic region"

Well London isn't central in the UK, neither is it central in Engand. Or for that fact, Edinburgh isn't central in Scotand, Cardiff isn't central in Wales, Belfast isn't central in northern Ireland, similarly Dublin in the south. Washington DC isn't central in the US, Or Paris in France, Rome in Italy, or even Oslo in Norway. That's a stupid criteria for including or excluding some place.

But Stockholm has one advantage, it sn't Oslo!

In my opinion it is an arrogant choice of slogan but it really is about semantics, i.e. the different meanings. We all know that Stockholm is not officially the capital of Scandinavia, therefore many think that Stockholm claims this slogan because it thinks it better, others interpret it as that we should care less about the other Scandinavian capitals.

It really reminds me of something that happened in Australia many years ago. In New South Wales state, license plates had the slogan "The Premier State" and later "The First State" on them. Despite it actually being the truth (with explorers first settling in Sydney) it outraged those in Victoria state who argued that their state was just as important. While NSW was actually the first state, those in Victoria intrepreted the NSW slogan as "NSW matters most so disregard the other states". As far as I know, the NSW licence plates nowadays just say "New South Wales" or NSW or nothing at all and Victorian state plates still say "On the Move".

Just like the NSW license plates, it really is about how the Stockholm slogan is interpeted. Perhaps the Stockholm slogan can be changed to something that doesn't make the other capitals feel left out or belittled because it really isn't that much better if at all.

Stockholm no better than Oslo? Hmmm? Is that a recommendation for either?

Wow, I thought that the capital of Scandinavia was Swedesboro, NJ. It's just off of exit 2 at the end of the NJ Turnpike.

In America some people think Denmark is the capitol :)

In Sweden some people think California stretches coast to coast in USA.

Well, Swedesboro, NJ has much to offer those traveling on the NJ Turnpike. When traffic is really bad (which it is pretty much every Friday after 4PM), one simply pulls off the NJTP, drives to Swedesboro, and play nine holes of golf.

Another disagreement between Vikings! I don't think rest of the Europe care much about it!

It is a breach of advertising rules in Sweden to mislead consumers by describing something in an inaccurate way.

The city of Stockholm has advertised itself as the "capital of Scandinavia". Stockholm is not the capital of Scandinavia. Seems like a fair cop to me.

@30 Skatty,

I don't think the rest of the world knows the difference. Or cares.

As a city, Stockholm is way much better than Oslo, considering all the companies established there, the people and the beauty of the city itself.

Coming to the "Norway has only oil and mountains" pleaaaaase! Norway nature is just unbelievable. A totally worth trip, even with the high prices

Its really SO funny seeing 'Scandinavians' squabbling among themselves over something which is just an arrogant piece of marketing by Swedes.

For the friendliness of its people, direct air links, 'international' atmosphere, and general ease of access to products, (just for starters) Copenhagen IS better qualified to describe itself as the 'capital of Scandinavia' .

But then again, Copenhagen doesn't really need these labels: most folks who've already been there - and then compared it to surly, scruffy, dirty, Stockholm would make up their own minds.

Admire Norwegians - but haven't been to Oslo for some years so I can't pass judgment on their capital

Have been to Oslo, seems they got the right resources and not working on it, Göteborg is far more beautiful and engaging. I think they are now moving at a faster pace as the oil spills over. I think they should go ahead and make Oslo a capital of anywhere, that is what all history is about, but for the time being, Stockholm excels, I think.

is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia which means helsinki+oslo+copenhagen=stockholm so, why anyone is furious when Stocholm is called the capital city of scandinavians.

Ok, here we go:

- Ontario capital of America.

- Paris capital of Europe.

- Dublin capital of the UK.

- Shanghai capital of Asia.

- Djibouti capital of Africa.

Surely one of these is gonna make someone flip and lash out.

Take your pick!

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So funny!

And they ask why we Swedes make fun of Norwegians?

But seriously, I don't think Stockholm had any intention of being abusive or arrogant. I don't think they were even thinking of Oslo. Let's face it, most people never think of Oslo.

This is more to be seen as a somewhat touching cry for being noticed Most people in the world connect Scandinavia with Copenhagen and what Stockholm is trying to do is to say: "Look here, we are here too!".

Historically, Norwegians have always been full of "little brother's complex". First in their relation to Denmark, and later as regards Sweden. (the peace prize was mentioned above - well, Alfred Nobel made a kind gesture and let the Peace Prize be awarded in the union brother-people's capital, but I guess he would turn in his grave if he saw that Norway uses it for their own foreign politics).

Then let us look at the cities:

A journey over water to Oslo is beautiful, but only until reaching the city. Then the fun is over. Oslo sucks, it is boring and hostile. I guess there are too many Norwegians as well.

Also Stockholm is beautiful, both to arrive at and to be in. It is a beautiful city.

But also Stockholm sucks, because it is hostile. And there are too many Stockholmers.

Copenhagen is different. It's beauty is somewhere between Oslo and Stockholm, but it is a dynamic and very friendly city to be in.

Why is this? Well I don't know, but this is further accentuated by toll roads. Instead of solving traffic problems, politicians and public servants try to make some additional fast and short-termed bucks on already burdened car owners. But the real message is: "Don't come here - we don't want you here! We will try to make it as difficult as possible for you!"

The entire Norway is full of toll roads. I got the message. They can keep their mountains to themselves - the world is full of other countries who wants communications and tourists.

So, each city has to find out a slogan in order to be noticed.

I suggest that people in Norway sit down and find one for Oslo, instead of just complaining. I am sure there must be SOMETHING that Norwegians are good at! Like... ...hrm... ...hrm... får-i-kål?

@ 37 I think Ontario is not a city ,

Look at the map. Oslo is the Armpit of Scandinavia.

Stockholm isn't even the capital of Sweden. Everyone knows that Eslöv blows away every town, city and village in Scandinavia.

Scandinavian are the two countries on the Scandinavian peninsula, Sweden and Norway and no others.

Whereas Denmark is connected to the European continent, these two countries have always lived removed in their own little world.

That's why they think and behave in like the yokels they are.