In addition to traditional festivities, several demonstrations will be held in Helsinki on Finland’s Independence Day on 6 December 2023.
Independence Day events will cause changes in traffic arrangements, public transport routes and pedestrian traffic in Helsinki. The police will have a visible presence in the city centre to ensure the smooth flow of events.
Security arrangements during Independence Day are the Helsinki Police Department’s largest annual operation, involving cooperation with several different police units and authorities.
“During Independence Day, Helsinki will host various events from morning until late in the night. The police will ensure the smooth flow of these events and maintain public order throughout the day,” says Superintendent Jere Roimu, director of operations for Independence Day events at the Helsinki Police Department.
Parades and demonstrations reported to the police
Several parades will be held in Helsinki on Independence Day. So far, the Helsinki Police Department has been notified of three demonstrations or parades. As the number of demonstrations and the routes of parades will be specified later, more information will be announced closer to the day.
Notifications of public meetings and demonstrations must be sent to the police no later than 24 hours before the beginning of the event. The notification can be submitted free of charge. More information about holding public meetings and demonstrations is available on the Police of Finland’s website at https://poliisi.fi/en/public-meetings-and-demonstrations.
The police recommends to prepare for congestion in the city centre
During Independence Day, several parades and demonstrations will be held in the centre of Helsinki, causing significant disturbances to traffic. The police recommends everyone to avoid unnecessary driving between 3 and 9 pm, especially around the city centre, including the Senate Square, Kruunuhaka, Katajanokka and Töölö.
The university students’ candlelight procession will also affect traffic around the Presidential Palace. Pohjoisesplanadi will be closed to vehicle traffic during the procession. The police will be directing traffic on the Meritullintori–Pohjoisranta route.
“We recommend everyone to prepare for congestion in the city centre during the Independence Day evening. Parades may also temporarily affect public transport schedules. The police may direct traffic to irregular routes, if required,” Roimu says.
Up-to-date information about public transport schedules and routes is available on the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority’s (HSL) website at www.hsl.fi/en. The special arrangements will also apply to ship passengers.
The police will publish updates about parade routes and other significant information in the Helsinki Police Department’s account @HelsinkiPoliisi in the X messaging service and on the Police of Finland’s website at www.poliisi.fi/en.
Aviation will be restricted in Helsinki on Independence Day
Aviation will be restricted in the centre of Helsinki on Independence Day between 6 am and 12 midnight. This restriction applies to both manned and unmanned aviation (drones). The temporary restriction zone will be established to safeguard the authorities’ aviation activities and the public events to be held in the area.
The authorities will have significant aviation activities in the area on Independence Day, and compliance with the restriction will be monitored closely. Any violations will be subject to a fine, and equipment may also be ordered forfeit to the State as an instrument of crime. We request professional and non-professional operators to understand the situation. No drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles can be operated in the area marked on the map.
These restrictions do not apply to the military, border guard, police, customs, maritime or aviation authorities, or rescue, paramedic or patient transport services, or their flight operations, when the fulfilment of the duties assigned to these authorities requires flight operations in the area. Furthermore, these restrictions do not apply to emergency air ambulance operations or flights that are based on an international obligation binding on Finland.
The police would like to remind every flight operator that they are obligated to comply with the flight restrictions in the area. More information about the restriction zones is available at droneinfo.fi/en and http://www.flyk.com/en.
