Options for Wednesday

There are two complimentary options for attendees on Wednesday 10th June 2026. Registration is required. Stay tuned for registration opening.

Verla Mill Museum tour

Date: 10th June 2026
Departure from: Hotel Vaakuna
Departure time: 9:00
Registration: TBC

Verla Groundwood and Board Mill is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Kouvola, about a 30 minute drive from the city centre. This beautifully preserved 19th century mill village offers an authentic glimpse into Finland’s early industrial history: the original factory buildings, machinery and workers’ homes remain almost exactly as they were when production stopped in 1964.

A guided tour in the Verla Mill Museum leads visitors through the entire process of turning wood into board, and the surrounding village setting with its historic buildings, exhibitions and scenic riverside views creates a distinctive atmosphere.

Coach to Verla departs from Hotel Vaakuna on June 10th at 9:00 and returns from Verla to Hotel Vaakuna at 11:30.

Kouvola Family Centre and Saaga Multicultural Centre visit

Date: 10th June 2026
Departure from: Hotel Vaakuna
Departure time: 9:00
Registration: TBC

The Family Centre in Kouvola brings together services for children, young people and families under one umbrella, so that support is easier to find and access. In the city there are five Family Centre areas in total. The Kouvola city centre Family Centre hosts professionals from different sectors and offers open meeting points and peer support activities for families.

The focus of the centres is on early support, everyday wellbeing and cooperation between the city, parishes, and NGOs to help families manage daily life and strengthen children’s growth and development.

The centre is located right next to the Hotel Vaakuna.

Saaga Multicultural Centre is an open, free “living room” in the heart of Kouvola, within walking distance of Hotel Vaakuna (address: Kouvolankatu 14). It is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can spend time, find activities and meet new friends. Visitors can play board and console games, do arts and crafts, read books, study Finnish independently, and even borrow outdoor games.

There are no age limits or language requirements: people from more than 50 countries come to Saaga to practise Finnish, learn about Finnish culture and society, share their own cultures, and join local trips and events around Kouvola and beyond.