WENNER-GREN CENTER
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW APARTMENT! The apartment is fully furnished. Dishes, cooking ware and blankets are supplied. Linens may be rented if you do not bring your own. Rents should be paid before the first of the month.The Foundation will charge a fee for each reminder for rent bills not paid before the due date stated on the bill.
At arrival, tenants are required to sign the inventory, stating that all items listed are intact and in good condition. The inventory will be checked again at your departure.
ADMINISTRATION: The Booking Manager’sofficeis located at the Reception.
E-Mail: h: 736 98 11.
THE RECEPTION is open Monday through Friday. For information send e-mail to: or send a fax to: +46-8-31 33 17, or call 736 98 00.
LAUNDRY FACILITIES: Rules and instructions in several languages are posted in the two laundry rooms. Tenants are not allowed to wash rented linens or the rugs, blankets, pillows or curtains in the apartment. These must be washed by the staff. Ask at the Reception. Please note that sheets must be used in the beds, if you do not want to rent them from the Administration, you must buy and use your own.
A STORAGE ROOM is available, free of charge, but you must provide your own padlock. Please note that your belongings arenot covered by any insurance.
PARKING FACILITIES are available, both indoor garages and parking lots. For rental information, see the Reception. Please note that cars are not covered by our insurance.
HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE is included in the rent. The insurance coversonly the apartment in case of a fire or flooding. It does not cover your personal belongings, your car or you as an individual.
INTERNET CONNECTION: Internet access is available for an additional, monthly, fee.
TELEPHONE CHARGES for local and long distance calls are charged by the minute. Bills are issued quarterly and on departure.
TELEVISION LICENSE FEE is included in the rent. You have access to twelve channels free of charge, including CNN International. If you have had a TV in your previous apartment in Stockholm, which you have paid the license fee for, you must to give notice of termination in writing to the TV-company. The address is: Radiotjänst in Kiruna AB, 981 80 Kiruna.
STANDARD VOLTAGE is 220 volts AC 50 hertz (50 cycles per second). You may need a converter. These cannot be bought in Sweden, you will have to bring it with you.
MAIL will be delivered to your apartment. Please make sure that the address includes your apartment number.You may not receive mail to your apartment for people
not living here. Only you and your immediate family, if they are accompanying you, may be registered at this address.
BED MEASUREMENTS: There are no double beds in the apartments, as they would be too difficult for the staff to move during cleaning and refurnishing. The standard single beds measurements are 90 cm (36 inches) x 200 cm (80 inches). The beds for children are 80 cm (32 inches) x 200 cm (80 inches). Baby-beds (cribs) are 60 cm (24 inches) x 110 cm (44 inches).
GENERAL INFORMATION
TAX OFFICE (Skattehuset). If you are staying in Sweden for more than twelve months, you must register at the local tax office. Ifyou’re going to stay one year or more, this registration will provide you with a personal number (personnummer), which entitles you to the same social benefits as Swedish citizens. Bring your passport and marriage certificate, if you are married, and birth certificates for your children. If you are staying less than one year, you can apply for an interim personal number instead, a samordningsnummer.Please note: You must also register at the local Insurance Office (Försäkringskassan). If you move to (or from) another municipality in Stockholm you must reregister at the tax office. Bring your passport. If you need to apply for a Residence Permit, a renewal of your Visitor’s Permit, apply for travel documents etc, please contact the Swedish Immigration Board. More information on
Please note that citizens from non-EEC countries must apply for their residence- and work permits before leaving their home countries.
BANKS: If you need assistance getting a bank account before coming to Sweden, we can help you. Please ask for our special agreement with one of the largest banks in Sweden, Handelsbanken (Swedish Bank of Commerce).
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS CONCERNING MOTOR VEHICLES Sweden has strict regulations concerning what may be imported duty free. Foreign motor vehicles may be used in Sweden up to one year without paying import- or vehicle tax if the owner maintains a home abroad, or if the car has a registration valid in Sweden, a valid Swedish Export Vehicle Registration, or a Tourist Vehicle License. More information on The one-year limit is based on the date of entry of the owner in Sweden, not the vehicle. If the owner does not maintain a home abroad, an interim license good for one month can be issued at the Customs Office. A Swedish Automobile Registration can be done through Vägverket at All cars must pass an inspection before they can be registered. The Swedish Vehicle Testing Cooperation (Bilprovningen) will carry out this inspection for a charge.
DRIVING IN SWEDEN
To drive a car or a motorcycle the minimum age is 18 years. The holder of a valid driver license issued in another country may drive a motor vehicle covered by his license for a period of one year. By the end of that year you must apply to exchange your license for a Swedish one. This can be done at the Drivers License Office at Länsstyrelsen. Go to Forms are available from any police station. You will need a Personal Certificate (“personbevis”) from the Tax Office to prove your identity. Please note: Only people from the EEC-countries, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Japan can exchange their driving licenses for Swedish ones. Other nationalities must take a drivers test. Driver’s licenses which are not in English, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, German, Danish or Norwegian must be accompanied by a Certificate of Authority and Validity of the license into one of the languages above. An authorized person or organization must issue this certificate. Contact your embassy for assistance.
IMPORTANT TRAFFIC RULES:
You must always carry your license with you when driving.
All vehicles must have low beam headlights or the equivalent (e.g. special warning lights) lit while driving – also during the day.
Most gas stations have 24-hour automatic gas pumps; they accept SEK100 and 20 notes.
Sweden has very strict regulations about drinking and driving. An alcohol quantity in the blood of more than 0.02 per mille is a punishable offense.
It is compulsory for both driver and passengers in front and back seats to fasten their seat belts.
Children under the age of 7 may not travel in a car if it is not equipped with a special child restraint or a normal seat belt adapted for a child’s use.
Motorcycle and moped drivers must wear crash helmets.
The police strictly enforce speed limits. On-the-spot fines are imposed and your license is confiscated if you have exceeded the stipulated speed limit by 30 km/h
(19 mph) or more.
Speed limits outside built-up areas are 110, 90 or 70 kph (68, 56 or 43 mph) depending on road width and traffic density. In built-up areas the limit is 50 kph (31mph) or 30 kph (19 mph) in school areas.
You must give way to all traffic approaching from the right unless the road sign indicates otherwise.
Cars may be parked on the right hand side of the street only.
You may not leave your car idling for more than one minute with the engine running.
All vehicles must carry a red reflector-warning triangle that is displayed in case of an accident or a breakdown.
Studded tires are permitted only between October 1st and April 30th.
For towing assistance, call Larmtjänst AB, Ph: 522784 00, which is a non-profit organization supported by several insurance companies.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES
MEDICAL COSTS Guest researchers registered in Sweden are entitled to subsidized medical consultations, hospitalization and prescriptions – if you are paying taxes in Sweden. This includes family members also. If you are in Sweden on a scholarship and you are not paying taxes, you are not entitled to any benefits.
DISTRICT NURSE provides nursing services and basic information on diagnosis and provides free pre/post natal care, childbirth and childcare classes, family planning and birth control advisory service. The Well Baby Clinic gives information on childcare, immunizations, optical examinations and dental services for children 0-6 years. All services are free of charge.
DENTISTS
To be entitled to lower rates, you must have a personal number and pay taxes in Sweden. Non-emergency services are available from Folktandvården (National Dental Services).
IMMIGRANT SERVICE At the web page of the Swedish Immigration Board, you can find information about work- and residence permits. You can download fact sheets and forms directly from the web page.
The National Agency for Higher Education The National Agency for Higher Education is a central authority on matters concerning institutions of higher education. You can find lots of useful information and links on their web page, also in English:
SOCIAL BENEFITS
The benefit W-G C residents are eligible for is the child benefit (“barnbidrag”) for children under 16. Studying allowance is only eligible for those staying permanently in Sweden.
CHILD BENEFIT Visiting scientists who pay taxes in Sweden and are accompanied by children under 16 years of age, or 18 if they attend school, will receive a child benefit if they are registered in Sweden. This begins either from the beginning of the year when the person in charge of the child received his census registration in Sweden, or when the child and one of his parents has been a resident in Sweden for six months in succession. This benefit is paid to the mother of the child. It is tax-free and should not be included in your income when you file your income tax return. When the child leaves Sweden, the person who receives the benefit is required to notify the Tax Registration Office and the National Social Insurance Office (Försäkringskassan) if it is for six months or more. If you neglect to do so, you’ll be required to pay back theallowance.
A SOCIAL GUIDE
Punctuality Both at work and in social life, you are expected to be punctual. If you’re invited for dinner at 8 pm, your hosts will expect you to be there at 8 pm sharp.
When being invited for dinner it is customary to bring a small present for the hostess, like flowers or candy. After the party, phone or write a thank-you-note. Verbal thanks are also expected the next time you meet your hosts.
Shoes off! Swedes take their outdoor shoes off when they go indoors. When invited to dinner parties you will find it convenient to follow the Swedish habit and bring another pair of shoes with you to wear indoors. Do not enter a Swedish home with your shoes on – it is considered very rude!
No smoking! Smoking is prohibited in restaurants, bars, public buildings, stores, the entire Stockholm Transportation System and many other places, and the regulations are getting stricter. Always check if there is a sign saying “Rökning förbjuden” (No smoking) before you light up a cigarette. It is considered rude to smoke in the home of someone who does not smoke - at least ask if it is all right first. When dining it is customary to wait until everyone has finished his or her meal before smoking.
Tipping is not obligatory, but you should give something. Most of the larger pubs and taverns have mandatory coat checks. They charge SEK 10-20 up front, and you are not expected to tip above that. Taxi drivers will usually expect tip, 10-15 % is average.
SCHOOLS
Parents at W-G C send their children ages 7–16 to the local English speaking Swedish school, Rödabergsskolan. More info on This is a tuition free school grades 1–9 and a 5-minute walk from W-G C. Swedish children start school at age 7.
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF STOCKHOLM Johannesgatan 18
THE FRENCH SCHOOL (FRANSKA SKOLAN) at Döbelnsgatan 9.
THE GERMAN SCHOOL (TYSKA SKOLAN) at Karlavägen 25.
KUNGSHOLMENS GYMNASIUM at Hantverkargatan 67-69, Ph: 508380 00 or go to Swedish High School with an international section.
INFORMATION ABOUT STOCKHOLM
For further information about Stockholm, go to:
THE SWEDISH INSTITUTE is a public agency established to disseminate knowledge about Sweden abroad. It produces a wide range of publications, in several languages, on many aspects of Swedish society. More information on
THE SWEDEN BOOKSHOP sells books about Sweden on the Internet.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The transportation service covers all of Stockholm County using buses, local trains and the subway. Season tickets as well as 30-days-tickets are available, which entitles you to unlimited travel on the entire transportation system; buses, subway and commuter trains, excluding the airport buses. These tickets are not personal and can be used by any member of your family. The tickets can be bought at subway stations and newsstands. If you will not use the system regularly, a strip of reduced-rate tickets called “rabatthäfte” can be bought at newsstands. Tickets can not be bought on the bus; you have to buy a ticket before boarding. A strip of reduced-rate tickets with 16 coupons will cost SEK 160. For traveling in the city, you will need two coupons for one trip. For traveling outside the city, to the nearby suburbs, you may need 3 or 4 coupons, depending on the distance.You pay according to the distance you travel. Any number of transfers can be made on the same ticket within one hour, including return trips. Children under the age of 7 travels free, children 7 – 12 years travel free on Friday afternoon and on weekends when accompanied by an adult. Senior residents travel on reduced rates. Buses have a special open area in the middle of the bus for baby strollers and the ride is free for the baby and one accompanying adult (only on buses, not the subway). Space is available on first come – first serve basis. There is room for two or three baby strollers only.
TAXI Some companies have a fixed fare for transfers to and from Arlanda Airport.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
Arlanda International Airport is situated 45 km (30 miles) north of Stockholm.
Buses: Airport buses to and from Arlanda and Bromma Airport leave every ten minutes from the City Terminal. There is also a bus stop close to W-G C at the Haga Park. It takes app. 40 minutes to reach Arlanda Airport by bus. Arlanda Express is the train connecting the airport and the city. Travel-time is app. 20 minutes.
CLIMATE AND BASIC FACTS
Temperatures in Stockholm:
Annual average temperature:+7.0C (Fahrenheit 45)
Average high:+27.3C (Fahrenheit 85)
Average low:-13.0C (Fahrenheit 10)
Average Monthly Temperatures:
Month / Centigrade/Fahrenheit / Month / Celsius/ FahrenheitJanuary / -2.1C/ 28 F / July / +16.9C/ 65 F
February / -2.2C/ 27 F / August / +15.0C/ 62 F
March / +0.2C/ 32 F / September / +11.2C/ 55 F
April / +4.3C/ 38 F / October / +6.4C/ 48 F
May / +10.3C/ 50 F / November / +1.8C/ 35 F
June / +14.3C/ 58 F / December / -1.0C/ 30 F
Stockholm gets 18 hours of daylight in the summer months. The winter months only offer 7 hours of daylight.
LANGUAGE Swedish is the official language. Most Swedes speak English and maybe yet another language.
Sweden is in the Central European Time Zone (GMT +1), summertime GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Sweden is on the 24-hour clock. This means that 12 pm is 12:00 o’clock, 1 pm is 13:00, 8 pm is 20:00 and 11 pm is 23:00 etc.
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