Nordic Scene

Compiled by Jesper Festin
  • 1. Scandinavian Translators’ Stammtisch
  • 2. Pankebuch
  • 3. Nordeuropa-Institut
  • 4. Felleshus of the Nordic Embassies
  • 5. Culture magazine Vagant
  • 6. Finnland-Institut
  • 7. Pequod Books
  • 8. Verlag Thorén & Lindskog
  • 9. Okay Café
  • 10. City Kino Wedding
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Jesper Festin

Jesper Festin was born 1988 in Uppsala, not far from Fyris River. Since 2014 he lives as a freelance translator near small Panke River in the North of Berlin. After his German Studies at University of Lund and at the Humboldt University in Berlin he participated at the German-Swedish Workshop organized by the “Europäische Übersetzerschmiede” at the Baltic Centre Visby and the Translator’s House in Looren. It was there where he should meet not only his future editor, but his girlfriend also. A Master of Fine Arts in Literary Translation at the Valand Academy in Göteborg, first contracts and more Workshops were following. He received an honorable mention from the Swedish Translator Awards Arets översättning in 2015, for his translation of children’s poems Jag stor du liten.

Foreword

Five countries and even more languages, many forests, countless lakes, and nowadays even a few big cities. Because of the densely intertwined cultural and political histories of the Nordic countries and the close relationships that continue to exist between them today, it’s not difficult to recognize a distinct “Nordic” literary scene in Berlin. Berlin is home to several thousand Nordic permanent residents, and countless thousands more spend time in Berlin on a temporary basis. Many of these are engaged in and contribute to Berlin’s literary and cultural scene. An enduring interest in the neighboring Nordic culture among Germans assures consistent interest and attendance at cultural events. In addition, there’s much more to discover in Nordic literature than Astrid Lindgren, detective novels, and Icelandic fairy tales. Contemporary Scandinavian poetry is in fact particularly vital and innovative.

What follows is a compilation that includes both large, state-sponsored institutions and independent small businesses, as well as informal meeting places. As a whole, it presents a diverse and yet manageable selection to inspire discovery, encounter, and further exploration. God tur!

Café Chagall am Senefelder Platz

Kollwitzstraße 2
10405 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg

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1. Scandinavian Translators’ Stammtisch

The Scandinavian translators’ Stammtisch meets at irregular intervals and is comprised largely of translators of Nordic languages into German, such as Hannes Langendörfer (Danish and Swedish) and Elke Ranzinger (Norwegian). The other direction is however also represented, by translators such as Annika Ruth Persson and Jörg Lindskog (and myself). The place isn’t always consistent, to say nothing of the table, but the name remains.

The Stammtisch was created in early 2015 by Stephanie Elisabeth Baur and Caroline Weiland. Since then, it has hosted text discussions, networking, and collegial exchange in a casual and friendly atmosphere. Those working on a difficult passage with a looming deadline can come for both moral support and concrete suggestions. Those wrestling with a publisher over contract terms can come for motivation and encouragement. And anyone just finding their way to this solitary craft will also find a visit worth their while. For precisely because translation is often such a solitary act—which is just fine, by the way—it’s nice to take the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues.

Pankebuch

Wilhelm-Kuhr-Straße 5
13187 Berlin-Pankow

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2. Pankebuch

Upon entering Berlin’s Nordic bookstore, one immediately reads greetings in eight languages. Pankebuch opened in 2011 in the heart of Pankow, not far from the old village green. There’s a “North wall,” which of course faces North, packed with books from the Nordic countries in German translation. The offerings also include original German titles, but the special thing about Pankebuch is its selection of new and used books in their original Nordic languages, which has made the store an important port of call for Nordic readers throughout the city. The slogan “the North’s most beautiful books” reflects the goal of reaching an audience far beyond Pankow. Pankebuch is also the partner bookstore of the Nordic Embassies, and owner Katrin Mirtschink and bookseller Petra Wenzel make sure that the book table at readings by Nordic authors at the Felleshus and elsewhere is always well filled.

The small bookstore hosts many readings, as well as non-literary events related to Scandinavia, such as the Midsommarfest and the late summer crab festival. And if the space isn’t large enough for such festivities, they can simply expand outward onto the quiet Wilhelm-Kuhr Straße, into the nearby Bürgerpark, or indeed onto the eponymous river Panke, where a raft has been known to serve as a stage for readings. Thus, the whole area becomes part of it. For Pankebuch is not only Berlin’s Nordic bookstore, but also an important meeting place for the immediate neighborhood. Here packages are taken in, keys dropped off, and children babysat with a literary touch. A true neighborhood bookstore, with a view towards the North.

Nordeuropa-Institut

Dorotheenstraße 24
10117 Berlin-Mitte

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3. Nordeuropa-Institut

The Nordeuropa-Institut at the Humboldt University is Germany’s largest institute for Scandinavian Studies. Founded in 1994 when the Nordic departments of the Humboldt and Freie Universities were combined, it now houses over 500 students. Since 2012, Stefanie von Schnurbein has been the institute’s director. In addition to lectures and seminars for students, the institute also offers a wide array of public programming, and its central location near Friedrichstraße makes it easy to reach.
Two guest professorships provide important connections to the contemporary Scandinavian academic scene. One is the Swedish-focused Dag Hammarskjöld chair, which has been occupied since the winter of 2017 by Håkan Forsell. Previously the position has been held by Otto Fischer, Aris Fioretos, and Ebba Witt Brattström, among others. The Norwegian counterpart is the Henrik Steffens chair, which has been occupied since winter 2014 by Janke Klok. A weekly public lecture series organized by the guest professors, in which scholars, authors, and journalists from Sweden and Norway speak about their research, current books, or special topics in their mother tongues, not only attracts students from the institute, but is also an important meeting place for Scandinavians involved in Berlin’s cultural and literary scene.
The building on Hegelplatz is also home to the Scandinavian branch of the Humboldt University library. With over 60,000 holdings related to the literature, history, politics, linguistics, and culture of the Nordic countries, it is unquestionably an important site for Nordic literature in Berlin. Many people visit daily to borrow books or read—and library cards are available to all!

Felleshus der Nordischen Botschaften

Rauchstraße 1
10787 Berlin-Tiergarten

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4. Felleshus of the Nordic Embassies

With five Nordic embassies, this location naturally has a diplomatic focus, but in fact, this building just south of the Tiergarten is a center of gravity for Nordic culture in Berlin as well. The “Felleshus,” Norwegian for community center, is the public connection between the five adjoining embassies. It is a place that invites encounter and experience. The building’s impressive architecture offers light and wood in abundance, as one would expect. There’s a cafeteria, which is open to external guests, and a space for exhibitions on the second floor, which also houses the excellent Oslo Kaffeebar. The space also hosts a packed schedule of events, often in cooperation with the Nordeuropa-Institut at the Humboldt University or the organization Kulturhus Berlin, which runs the Nordic film club at the Felleshus, among other things. The Felleshus also chooses a “book of the month” to be highlighted, often with an accompanying reading by the author in the auditorium.

Kulturzeitschrift Vagant

Gerichtsstraße 23
13347 Berlin-Wedding

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5. Culture magazine Vagant

In the Gerichtshöfe, not far from the river Panke, is the main office of the culture magazine Vagant. Norwegian-born longtime Berliner Audun Lindholm is currently editor-in-chief, and has been on the editorial team since 2005. Other editors include the Swedish literary critic Mats O. Svensson, who also lives in Berlin, and Christian Johannes Idskov, a Dane living in Copenhagen. Vagant is one of Scandinavia’s most ambitious culture magazines, appearing quarterly. In addition, the website vagant.no is regularly updated with exclusive online material as well as selected articles from the print edition. Since 2017, the magazine has been operated as an independent publisher with financial support from Norsk kulturråd (the Norwegian cultural council).
Vagant publishes texts in all the Scandinavian languages, and not only on the subject of literature: music, art, film, and society are also well represented. The articles show a clear pan-European perspective, and it is the magazine’s stated goal to infuse Nordic cultural debates with external ideas, perspectives, and impulses. This goal is exemplified in the series “Vagant Europa,” which publishes essays and interviews from various European newspapers and magazines translated into one of the Scandinavian languages. In this way, important aspects of European intellectual debate are made accessible to a Scandinavian readership.
The office in the Gerichtshöfe also serves as a space for events. During the 19th Berlin Poetry Festival in 2018, for instance, the Swedish-Berlin writer Malte Persson and others read poetry on the roof of the old factory building.           

Finnland-Institut

Georgenstraße 24
10117 Berlin-Mitte

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6. Finnland-Institut

It’s no secret that Finland holds a special position among the Nordic countries. The Finnish language is very different from the other major Nordic languages, yet the country’s political and cultural history is closely linked to that of its neighbors. In any case, there’s an independent Finnland-Institut in Berlin, right at the Friedrichstraße station. Since 1994, it has acted as an event- and information center, playing an important role in disseminating and supporting Finnish culture in Germany. The Institute hosts readings, lectures, and seminars, as well as concerts. There is also a library which is open to the public. N.B! As of September 2018, the Institute will occupy a different location on Friedrichstraße.

Pequod Books

Selchower Straße 33
12049 Berlin-Neukölln

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7. Pequod Books

Not far from Neukölln’s hectic Hermannstraße, Pequod Books is a small multilingual oasis just waiting to be discovered. The selection of used books in over fifteen languages suits this international and intercultural neighborhood perfectly. Though the English and French sections are the most extensive, there’s also a very respectable selection of pre-read Scandinavian books. Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish books all have their own sections. Contemporary Scandinavian literary magazines, like the Swedish Populär Poesie, for instance, are also available for purchase in the store. The selection is partially dependent on what customers themselves offer for sale, so the store is intimately connected with the readership of northern Neukölln, a neighborhood that is home to many of Berlin’s literary Scandinavians.
The store is also an active participant in several of the neighborhood’s literary and cultural events, for example the “LiteraTour Neukölln,” which took place for the third time in 2018. Owner Álvaro Sendra can’t speak the languages of all the books he sells, but always has time for a chat about recently arrived titles in each section. This personal touch and the integration with the neighborhood are what make Pequod Books special.

Verlag Thorén & Lindskog

Oderstraße 49
12049 Berlin-Neukölln

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8. Verlag Thorén & Lindskog

The small Swedish press Thorén & Lindskog has been publishing German literature in Swedish translation since 2008. With bases in Göteborg and Berlin, it’s primed for intercultural exchange. Founder and publisher Jörg Lindskog has lived in Berlin since 1993. Editor Rebecca Kjellberg has headed the branch in Göteborg since 2017. Both are themselves translators and have translated many of the books the press has published, though not all. Rather, over its ten years of existence the press has helped many younger and emerging translators get their start. With authors like Ralf Rothmann, Benedict Wells, Peter Stamm, Mariana Leky, Angelika Klüssendorf, and Robert Seethaler, the Thorén & Lindskog has contributed significantly to making German literature beyond the classics accessible to a Swedish readership. The press’s goal is to publish “reader-friendly, high-quality literature.” Since 2014, Thorén & Lindskog’s catalogue has also included original literature in Swedish, but German-language literature remains the focus, and the connection to Berlin will continue. 

Okay Café

Pflügerstraße 68
12047 Berlin-Neukölln

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9. Okay Café

The Okay Café opened in early 2016 in Pflügerstraße in Reuterkiez. Though the décor is Scandinavian and the culinary offerings are inspired by Stockholm’s cafes, luckily the prices are not. The neighborhood is one many young Scandinavians have made their home, and guests can often be heard speaking Swedish, as can proprietor Marie-Louise Crona. This is the right spot when a craving for a kanelbulle, a cinnamon roll, strikes, unaccompanied by the desire to bake it oneself, for here the pastries are baked fresh every day. On holidays other Swedish specialties are on offer—adventsfika or midsommarlunch, for example.

City Kino Wedding

Müllerstraße 74
13349 Berlin-Wedding

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10. City Kino Wedding

Since 2015 the Scandinavian film series “Northern Lights” has been playing annually in the early summer in selected Berlin cinemas. Four or five new films from the Nordic countries are presented in their original languages with German subtitles. One of the participating cinemas is City Kino Wedding in the Centre Français Berlin, located between Volkspark Rehberge and Schillerpark. Since 2014 it has been run by Anne Lakeberg and Wiebke Thomsen. Though as the name suggests, French culture holds a more prominent position here than Nordic, City Kino Wedding has earned a place in this compilation because the opportunity to enjoy a good selection of Nordic films in a large cinema, and above all in their original languages, is still a rarity in Berlin. One can also claim a connection to literature: film adaptations of literature are common, after all. The film of Kristian Lundberg’s book The Yard was shown as part of “Northern Lights” in 2018, for example.