Driving in Finland
Driving and parking
Electricity
The voltage of the mains electricity supply in Finland
is 220V (230V), 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin continental
size.
Oulun Energia (energy
supply)
Kasarmintie 6
Tel. 08 558 3300
Healthcare
Social and health services
Insurance
Suomi.fi (Ministry of Finance)
Internet
Often the quickest way to do things in Finland is
through the Internet. Both local and national service
providers offer internet subscriptions. For more information
on the various connection types and prices, please contact
the service providers. These include:
DNA,
Elisa,
Saunalahti and
Sonera.
Free internet access is available in public premises and
the city centre, for example, through the wireless
panOULU network.
Housing
Living in Oulu
Language
There are two official languages in Finland: Finnish and
Swedish. The compulsory languages for Finnish children in
basic education include Finnish, Swedish and English.
People living in the Oulu Region are largely Finnish
speaking. Most shops, however, do serve customers in other
languages as well, at least in Swedish and English.
Language courses
It is always good to broaden your horizons and learn the
Finnish language. However, for expatriates staying on a
short-term assignment it might seem an unnecessary waste of
time. At the very least you should try to take a ‘survival
course’. It will help you with reading your mail, road signs
and the labels in grocery stores.
Information about studying Finnish:
Finnish language cources
Information about studying Finnish
Magazines and newspapers
The library in Oulu has a good collection of
international magazines and newspapers which are available
for reading in the library but not for borrowing.
International newspapers and magazines can be bought at the
Akateeminen Kirjakauppa, Stockmann, for example.
All local newspapers are in Finnish. The main local
newspaper is Kaleva.
Several free newspapers are also published in Oulu, such as
Forum24,
Rauhan Tervehdys
and Oulu-lehti.
Finnish news in English:
65°North - News from Oulu
YLE news
Helsingin Sanomat
(International Edition)
eFinland
Newsroom Finland
Scandinavia Now
News
sources from Finland
Kauppalehti
online
Helsinki News from WN
Networks
Parking
Driving and
parking
Post
The main post office is located next to the railway
station
Hallituskatu 36, tel. 0800 17100. There are also local
post offices in different parts of the city.
Stamped letters and postcards can be left in the yellow
post boxes on the streets. As well as post offices, stamps
are also available at kiosks, for example.
For information on postal services, such as postages and
delivery times, please visit
the Posti website.
You can also use the Posti internet service to submit an
official change of address notification. Information on your
new address is then sent to
the
Finnish Population Register Centre,
Posti and some
businesses.
Religions
Useful links
Taxes
Taxation in Finland (Tax Administration)
Sales taxes
VAT (Value Added Tax, ALV in Finnish) is included in prices.
The VAT on most goods and services is 22%. VAT on food and
fodder is 17%. VAT on books, pharmaceuticals, sports and
exercise services, film shows, personal transportation,
accommodation services, culture and entertainment events and
TV licences is 8%.
Telephones
Most Finns have mobile phones. Sim cards and mobile
phones can be obtained at mobile phone shops and some local
kiosks. The most popular mobile phone service providers are
DNA,
Elisa,
Saunalahti and
Sonera. For more information on phones, please visit
Suomi.fi service (Ministry of Finance).
Telephone calls
Telephone calls outside Oulu telecommunication area in
Finland: dial area code 08 + phone number
To call to Finland from abroad, dial:
* the international code
* and 358 (country code for Finland)
* and area code (drop the prefix 0)
* and phone number
For example Oulu City Hall, tel. + 358 8 5584 1100
To call to a mobile phone number, dial:
* The international code
* and 358
* and phone number (drop the first 0)
For example + 358 40 123 4567
International Calls from Finland:
The list of codes and more information can be found in the
the telephone directory. To call directly from Finland,
* dial prefix: 990, 994, 999 or 00
* and country code
* and area code (drop the prefix 0)
* and phone number
Television
Television use in Finland requires a valid television
licence. You need a licence to watch both digital and
satellite television and television on your mobile phone or
computer. YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, is funded
by television licence fees.
Mor information on the TV licence fee is available at
FICORA
websites.
On 31 August 2007, all television broadcasts became
digital. In order to view Finnish TV broadcasts you will
need either a digibox linked to an analogue television or a
television equipped with a digital receiver.
For more information on watching television, please visit
Suomi.fi service (Ministry of Finance).
Transportation
Maps and
Transportation
Water
Water for household consumption in Finland is very clean
and can be enjoyed straight from the tap. The quality of
household drinking water in Oulu is one of the best in the
country when compared to other cities producing household
water from surface water. Oulun Vesi produces household
water from the River Oulujoki.
Oulun Vesi (water
supply)
Kasarmintie 29
P.O. Box 35, 90015 Oulu
Tel. 08 558 43800
Fax: 08 558 43819
E-mail: oulunvesi(at)ouka.fi
Waste disposal and recycling
The
Municipal Solid Waste Management of Oulu is responsible
for household waste disposal in Oulu.
Residents and property owners are responsible for
collecting and recycling waste and taking it to the
applicable collection points. There are several area
recycling points across Oulu where you can take household
paper, glass, cardboard, steel and aluminium, and plastic
free of charge. Buildings with over 10 apartments must
organise collection for solid waste, biodegradable waste,
paper, cardboard, glass, and steel and aluminium.
Working life
Information on working life rules in Finland is available
on
the Employment and Economic Development Office website.
|
