Sweden

Sweden has a coastline of approximately 2,400 km, as well as a number of navigable lakes and canals. Maritime navigation is today assisted by more than 2,500 lighthouses and a large number of buoys and beacons. The Swedish Maritime Administration owns and maintains the majority of Sweden’s lighthouses.

The Swedish Lighthouse Society (SLS), founded in 1996, is a non-profit association. Our mission is to increase knowledge about and promote the preservation of the cultural heritage represented by Swedish lighthouses, lighthouse stations, lightships, and other navigational marks. We also aim to protect public access to the most culturally valuable lighthouses and lighthouse sites.

Today we have more than 5,200 members. In addition to individual members, Sweden’s local lighthouse associations, maritime organizations, shipping companies, boat clubs, and others are members of our society. We are probably the world’s second-largest national lighthouse association. In 2002, the Society helped found the World Lighthouse Society.

We maintain very close cooperation with the Swedish Maritime Administration, the National Maritime and Transport Museums, the National Property Board of Sweden, and the Swedish National Heritage Board, all with the aim of achieving our goals. Over the years we have published a large number of books and publications on Swedish lighthouse history and lighthouse sites. The Society has also built databases covering all Swedish lighthouse and pilot personnel, as well as a comprehensive reference work on lighthouses and lighthouse stations that is used locally, nationally, and internationally.

There are 15 Swedish lighthouses/lighthouse sites that are approved by the Swedish Maritime Administration for visitors. SLS works together with local lighthouse associations to obtain permission to establish lighthouse exhibitions at all of these sites.

For the time being, the Swedish Lighthouse Society serves as the umbrella organization for the Swedish lighthouses that are members of ERoL.