Finland’s National Archives plans to close four regional offices by 2030

Finland’s National Archives has announced plans to shut down four of its regional offices by 2030, citing budget cuts and declining visitor numbers, reports public broadcaster Yle.

The proposed closures would affect locations in Oulu, Joensuu, Helsinki’s Siltavuorenranta district, and Mikkeli’s Pirttiniemenkatu. If implemented, the archives would retain only six offices nationwide by the end of the decade—Helsinki, Turku, Vaasa, Mikkeli, Kuopio, and Inari.

The decision follows earlier plans to close offices in Jyväskylä and Hämeenlinna by 2027. The National Archives stated that expanding its central repository in Mikkeli’s Kalevankangas area is a prerequisite for the closures, as it would consolidate physical records currently stored at the soon-to-be-shuttered sites.

Visitor numbers at the archives’ research rooms have dropped over 80 percent in two decades, while demand for digital materials has surged. The institution has not received new paper-based records in five years, reflecting a broader shift toward digital documentation.

Budget constraints have forced the National Archives to seek savings of €1.7 million annually. Its core funding for 2027 is €2.4 million lower than in 2024. The agency is also exploring ways to provide access to physical materials in regions without official offices.