Parking in Rauma is free, but you have to follow the parking rules on how long time you can park. It is either 1 hour, 2 hours or 24 hours. The latter means that you move your car next day.
Free parking in old Rauma
You can use the parking clock or a piece of paper to mark down the starting time (last spring anything else than a Finnish parking clock was forbidden). And pay attention, you mark only full hours and half hours. If you arrive 13.01, you mark 13.30 as the starting time!
Unfortunately this means getting late to lunch and meetings in order to win half an hour extra parking time 😊 Imagine seeing a friend or feeding 2 small kids at the favorite Wen Jing restaurant in such a hurry in 1 hour. You don’t want to run out to park somewhere else, but changing the clock numbers is also forbidden.
The city also reminds you that a parking sign with a bus or a motorbike picture under P sign means that only such vehicles can park there. And please follow the parking squares painted on the old town streets that refer to the places where parking is allowed.
In Rauma, several parking spaces have a two-hour time limit on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm. But the 2-hour starts to count in the morning -> for example, if you arrive on a weekday at 5pm, the car can then be parked in the same place overnight until the next morning at 10am.
You have someone shovel your snow. There is an invoice. You can deduct part of these taxes from your tax return.
I want to inform you about the tax deduction of household expenses. This is something we do not have in Estonia and the idea of the Finnish government is to support the official taxation of all services provided, even when done at home.
When you buy services for your home or vacation home, you can deduct part of your expenses in your taxation as a household deduction. You will receive a deduction for routine household, care and maintenance work, maintenance and renovation work, and IT installation and consulting services.
You must apply for the household deduction yourself. Work performed and wages and salaries paid must be declared for tax purposes either online via Omavero.fi or by post, for example on form 14A (household deduction from wages and salaries paid to the enterprise).
The deduction is calculated from the VAT price. The deduction is only given for the share of the work, not for the materials, for example. In 2021, you can deduct as a household deduction 40 per cent of the salary paid to an entrepreneur or company on the prepayment register or 15 per cent of the salary paid and incidental expenses.
The maximum amount of the household deduction in 2021 (as in 2020) is EUR 2,250 per. The amount may consist solely of household, renovation or IT work, or all of these. The reduction is accompanied by an annual deductible of EUR 100.
In 2021, you will receive the maximum reduction, ie a reduction of EUR 2,250, if the total amount of work in the services you purchase from the company is EUR 5,875 [(5,875 x 40%) – 100) = EUR 2,250].
The deduction is granted to the spouses as they request it. If the limit of € 2,250 is not exceeded, the deduction should only be requested for the other spouse. In this way, the deductible is reduced only once. If the amount claimed for deduction exceeds the maximum, the authority will automatically deduct the amount not deducted from the other spouse’s taxes. Spouses can receive a total of € 4,500 in deductions. If there is only one tax, the deduction can be made from the taxes of the person who has them. Source
The household work that is usually deducted is: • cleaning • shopping • cooking • lawn mowing • snow cleaning • home party catering
However, interior design or emptying a dirt well are not work that qualifies for a deduction.
You can deduct from care and nursing work that is done at home, such as caring for children or the elderly at home. Hairdresser, manicure and other beauty services are not considered to be normal nursing and care work at home.
Maintenance and renovation work that qualifies for a household deduction • renovation of the kitchen, bathroom or other rooms, • renovation of sauna and basement facilities, • painting buildings, • installation of balcony glass, • plumbing and electrical work as well, • renewal, improvement and repair of heating systems.
A household deduction can also be obtained for maintenance of the boiler oil bulb, cleaning of the boiler, efficiency measurement of the boiler and cleaning, measuring, adjusting and maintenance of ventilation equipment. However, no deduction can be made for „chimney cleaning“.
The installation and repair of household appliances and equipment, such as refrigeration appliances or dishwashers, is not considered deductible maintenance work, unless it is carried out in connection with major repairs.
Information technology advisory and installation services entitling to a household deduction include: • installing and repairing a digital device or antenna, • installing and repairing your computer, • setting up telecommunications connections, • installation of security services, purchased software and purchased, updates on the IT equipment, • guidance work on home information and communication equipment and connections (if it takes place at home).
The installation work of the alarm and security system is now subject to a household deduction. The surveillance system can be installed both at home or in a holiday home. No household deduction for maintenance and other service charges for alarm and security systems.
The Franciscan monastery was here probably already when the town received its city rights to make trade in 1442. This church has served both catholics and lutherans.
The impressive wall paintings are from when the church was inaugurated in 1512.
A few years later, during the reformation of 1538, the monks had to leave the country. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church 100 years later, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire in 1640.
I tell you the stories of the war trophies as we visit the church on my historical tour 😉
The music in this church building was a magnificent combination. In the video: Ave Maria e organo concert on July 15th, 2020 Saara Kukko (mezzo-soprano) and Henri Tuominiemi (organ and piano)
Mona Elo (left) carried out, Kairi Rintanen wrote down the International Rauma survey of foreigners. The lack of information in English was perceived as the biggest shortcoming in the survey. Photo: Juha Sinisalo
Here is a quick translation to our media report about the survey we had in June. The article was published on July 14th, 2020 in Länsi- Suomi newspaper and it’s online version. Available online here.
“Foreigner moving to Rauma needs local support network: International Rauma survey reveals everyday problems“
“I’m sitting at home now, because I don’t know the language and I don’t know where I can find information about cultural events. Before moving here, I lived a socially active life. Actually any activity is good.”
This is how foreigners living in Rauma commented in a survey that was conducted on Facebook and Instagram by the International Rauma (founded by Mona Elo).
The survey of Elo, a Danish student studying international trade at SAMK, was conducted at the beginning of June during one week and involved 100 foreigners living in Rauma.
Elo originally founded the International Rauma group to improve the connection between the international students and companies in Rauma. Since then, the group has expanded to include non-students.
Local contacts important
According to the survey, more than 2,000 foreigners live in Rauma. They are mostly young (more than half are aged 31-40). Based on the survey, they would like to meet local people, learn more about the Finnish language and need more information about hobbies.
They need more guidance in English, for example at a health center.
Noëmie Le Forestier, a French woman, who was at the yard of the art museum with her child, agrees that more information should be available in English. She made a French-language website to help other people moving to Rauma.
– I was pretty lost when we moved here a year ago, says le Forestier.
About one-seventh of respondents were unemployed: they felt they needed more courses to enter the job market.
– Many jobseekers needed help to make a job application and CV, Mona Elo states.
International Rauma was already organizing a seminar in spring, where foreigners would have had the opportunity to get a feel for local companies and hear tips on entering the labor market.
– Corona postponed the Thonkathon event. It is open to everyone and will now take place in the autumn, Elo says.
Demand for a spare grandmother
According to Kairi Rintanen, an Estonian who wrote about the survey to the media, foreign families also need a local support network, a Finnish family member who would teach how to make Finnish food and find, for example, baking powder on the store shelf.
– That is not a need for a young babysitter, but for a grandmother type of a person who would teach life wisdom and play with children every now and then.
Rintanen has in her mind been running the paid “Rent a Grandmother” service.
– If there are extra grandmothers somewhere, we need them, she smiles.
Getting out of home
Some of the foreigners have come to Rauma alone. According to the survey they would want to have company for a sports activity or a local trip. Joint outdoor activities would give an opportunity to meet other people.
Foreigners also need guidance on everyone’s rights. Some were unsure of where to get their fish and pick berries and mushrooms.
– Here would be an opportunity for nature guides to sell tours to local foreigners, Rintanen suggests.
The international community of Rauma gets together every second week. The first events of the Thursday Mingle have so far taken place in Amarillo from 17.30-20.
Rintanen is a Rauma guide and also has a blog Rauma Guide.
Author: Maarit Anttila, Länsi-Suomi newspaper in cooperation with Kairi Rintanen, your rauma.guide page blogger 😉
Now that people had time to clean their cupboards during the corona break and they feel like selling and buying new things, second hand shops are very popular again!
Rauma is a small town, hence people do not have an access to huge shops and they go to the flea markets, especially to buy the kids’ clothes and old Finnish dishes. For some it is an ecological way of life.
Besides the shops listed here for tourists, there are a number of online Rauma flea markets on facebook. The best known online market in Finland is tori.fi, that is totally free to use.
Eveliina, Monnankatu 39 ( a little bit away from city center, but still a busy place in Kourujärve living area)
Kirpputori-Kahvio Radanvarsi, Rautatienkatu 6 (near the railway; couple of flea markets next to each ohter in old railway warehouses)
The flea market of the salvation army is now called Peippo Kirppis. Located near the old town, at Savilankatu 9
The three flea market shops (Ala-puoti, Ylä-puoti and Soffakammari) of the Finnish Red Cross, Karjalankatu 15 (this is a place I take old clothes to and the Red Cross gets money as they sell it). Now called Kirpputori Puoti ja Wanhat Tawarat?
Lokki kirpputori, Satamakatu 2 (near the central park) Keskuspuisto
Kasitien kirppis, not in Rauma, but Kangasnummentie 1, Eurajoki (people say they have found good deals)
So how does it work if you want to sell at kirppis (the Finnish word for flea shop)? You rent a box for a week for about 20 euros. You tag your products with a paper, that refers to the product / size, its cost and box number. The cashier collects your papers, when people buy and weekly gives you the money. All money you make is yours, but make sure you sell more than you pay rent, hahaa. No need to pay taxes from this revenue. Sometimes shopkeepers sell your things for you and they get 40% of the sales. This way you do not have to pay the cupboard rent, neither make your box look nice. The flea market owner makes extra money buy selling things bought from old houses and with a coffee corner.
According to the statistics, there are 2518 foreigners in Rauma (as of 31.12.2022) in a town of almost 38 667 inhabitants. That is 6,5 percent of the population.
Most foreigners have moved here to build the third nuclear power plant in Eurajoki and now as the project ended, we do not know how many would like to stay in Rauma. Many foreigners work as subcontractors at the Rauma Marine Construction and other industrial sites.
People from Poland, Estonia, France, and Romania are the most represented countries in Rauma.
Which country are you from and do you regularly meet people of your nationality?
We have meetings with the Estonians in Pori a few times a year. The meetings in Laitila ended due to a lack of interest.
In general, the population looks like this in terms of geography FOREIGN COUNTRIES TOTAL 2518 EUROPE 1783 ASIA 572 AFRICA 85 AMERICA 54 OCEANIA 12
And in terms of nationalities in Rauma, the top list goes like this:
Finland 36149 Poland 310 Estonia 244 France 177 Romania 131 Germany 131 Latvia 118 Ukraine 117 China 115 Philippine Islands 103 India 89 Bulgaria 74 Lithuania 73 Turkey 70 Russia 62 Slovakia 58 Thailand 58 Iraq 50 United Kingdom 32 Afghanistan 29 Nepal 29 Swedish 25 Greece 24 Namibia 23 Sri Lanka 22 Morocco 20 Spain 18 Hungary 18 Syria 17 United States 15 Italy 14 Brazil 14 Vietnamese 14 Croatia 13 Somalia 13 Former Serbia and Montenegro 12 Australia 12 Czech Republic 11 Pakistan 11 Portugal 10
This list is about Rauma town only. It does not include the Rauma district area with its smaller municipalities of Eura, Eurajoki, and Säkylä.
The best hiking trails in Rauma can be found in the biggest islands in Rauma archipelago: Nurmes and Reksaari. The marked hiking routes can be explored either independently or with an instructor. Resting places along the trails have lean-to shelters (laavu), outhouses, campfire places and firewood. There are both easy and more challenging hiking trails in the archipelago.
Visit the medieval part of Turku at Aboa Vetus museum. The city had a big fire in 1827, but its medieval stone cellars and paths can still be seen, cause these were buried under the ground when a garden was built. The oldest parts dating back to end of 14th century.
The information is easy to read (Finnish, English, Swedish). Kids have a play area after each stand. There is a modern cafe place in the museum house. I did not have time to go to the art museum, though.
child’s shoe 1300
medieval house
horse jaw, horses would heat the house
streets were covered with wood
medieval houses like these in Tallinn too
the stairs lead to an alley behind the house
modern museum house near the river
at some time a spa house, sometimes a tobacco factory above the cellars
museum easy to grasp
wells were in cellars
imagine goats jumping on those grass roofs, same in Rauma
Although not in Rauma, Naantali spa is one of the best known spas in Finland. It is luxurious and one of the closest to Rauma.
Hopefully Rauma gets its own spa one day, just like it had one over 100 years ago.
I met families with 3 different holiday budgets. A family of 4 had paid a website price of about 200e for the Moomi room in the spa building. The timeshare owner that paid 150e for 5 nights for 2 and extra for the breakfast and spa. And another lucky one with his employer’s discount price of 250e for 2 nights for the 2 room flat in the nearby residence. An additional -50% for the extras such as 10e per spa visit and breakfast for adults makes it close to 200e per night, I guess.
The hotel had a restaurant on the down floor. Two play areas for kids staying at the hotel, although restaurant visitors were trying to get in too. Several pools and hot tubs at the spa, also outside. And it did not feel cold! Holiday Club often invites people to the hotel with a 50e per night deal, but it includes a marketing event for such timeshare investments in hotels (as mentioned before).
It does not have to be a touristic spot to visit. I love walking in the flower shops / greenhouses and this one looks so special. Viherkäine OY has design products for home, antiques, flowers, trees and sometimes there is a café corner.
A local couple with a gardening background, Kari and Kirsi Sjöroos , found a nice onion field in the Rauma city center. They bought the premises and turned the greenhouses into a shop in 1988. They opened a company called Viherkäine OY, which means “green” in Rauma language.
They offer gardening services to private and business clients. Their machinery clean the city roads. The retail side is just a side business and hence it does look quiet in there. I hope they get more customers now that the post packages can be collected from there.
And I just walk there and wonder like Alice in Wonderland. Where am I? Is it ok to walk here without buying anything 🙂
You see two sculptures of the local Rauma artist Kerttu Horila in the following gallery. The company website
Book a private tour guide or ask help in relocating to Rauma!
Rauma private guide / Rauman opas 