Rower Madams and Djurgården ferries
Harbour traffic in Stockholm dates back to the 1700’s when rowing madams provided transport between the different areas of the city. The rowing boats had their own landing stages but didn’t offer a regular service to specific destinations. Passengers themselves would decide where they wanted to be taken.
In 1785 the first official route was introduced between Skeppsbron and Blasieholmen. Over time traffic increased and during the 1820’s the rowing madams were joined by women from Dalarna. They had larger rowing boats with a paddle wheel and operated on specific routes such as to Djurgården. A couple of decades later these old ”kullbåtar” disappeared and were replaced by faster paddle sloops and packet boats.
Steamboat companies
The first steamboat company was introduced in 1853 and operated a service between Riddarhusgränd and Röda bodarna, now known as Tegelbacken. In 1863 The Stockholm Stemboat Company was founded and quickly expanded to incorporate no less than 54 steam powered sloops and boats serving twenty routes.
The streets take over
By the turn of the century land transport had started to compete with the collective sea traffic system. Trams, busses and bridges helped facilitate land travel and consequently many ferry routes were discontinued. Except traffic to Djurgården. In 1970, Waxholmsbolaget bought the six Djurgården ferries and took over the route, Slussen – Allmänna gränd.
Steamboats for summer visitors and archipelago residents
Djurgårdsbolaget was founded in 1849 and operated a steamboat service to the local Stockholm archipelago. During the next few years the paddle steamers Ran and Aegir were built to operate on the routes Stockholm – Vaxholm and Stockholm – Dalarö. The new steamboats quickly became an integral part of archipelago traffic. Demand was partly fuelled by well-to-do Stockholmer’s who began to build summer villas .on outlying islands. However, the main demand came from archipelago residents who for centuries had been forced to row all the way into town to sell fish and vegetables at the market.
Waxholmsbolaget founded
In 1869 Waxholmsbolaget was formed from the old Djurgårdsbolaget. Enough shares were floated for the company to order the first propellor powered steamboat. SS Fredriksborg. In 1881 the first ferry of this type was delivered, becoming, in the eyes of the public, a typical Waxholm’s boat. Despite the fact there was a predecessor with the same name, the new ship was called Waxholm.
Twenty years later Waxholmsbolaget merged with its main competitor, Stockholm-Waxholm Rederi AB. The new company took delivery of a series of new classic archipelago boats, which became the backbone of the organization. These included, Express I, Norrtelje, Waxholm I, Waxholm II and Prins Gustaf.
In 1913 representatives from Enskilda Bank took over financial responsibility for Waxholmsbolaget. The idea was to expand the company’s operations and offer a more comprehensive service throughout the archipelago. During this period the famous artist, Jakob Hägg, designed the famous company logo with its large W set inside a blue and yellow chimney. For a time Waxholmsbolaget was run by Rederi Svea, which had become the majority shareholder in 1946. In 1964 the authorities demanded that archipelago traffic be incorporated into regional traffic politics. Boat traffic became a part of the collective public transport system and the town of Vaxholm became the centre of archipelago traffic. The new order was, however, not overwhelmingly popular. Dissenting voices came from a variety of quarters, including groups committed to saving the last steamboats, Norrskär, Storskär, Västan and Saxaren.
Three years later summer traffic in the archipelago was threatened, which is why Stockholm Regional County Council took over the running of Waxholmsbolaget in 1967. In cooperation with SL and the other collective traffic systems a new organization was built up that developed the company into an important part of the modern traffic system within Greater Stockholm. Since then the company has continued to expand. During the 1990’s a completely new archipelago fleet was delivered. Five new light metal boats, so- called V boats, which provided a faster and more efficient service. Later another generation of modern archipelago baoats were added to the fleet. These include the speedy ice breaking boats, Söderarm, Sandhamn, Dalarö as well as Nämdö and Gällnö. At the same time we began restoring our steamboats, the company’s true heirlooms. They are a partiece of archipelago history that we value very highly and take great pride in protecting. Every year we enjoy welcoming passengers on board SS Norrskär and SS Storskär, with their original polished mahogany and shiny brass fitted interiors. Nowhere else in the world are there such shining examples of steamboats in regular service and nowhere else are they as loved as in the Stockholm archipelago.