Discover Kalajoki: Dunes, Archipelago and History

Kalajoki offers more than a day at the beach: dunes and sandy beaches define the coastal landscape at Hiekkasärkät, while Rahja and Maakalla bring archipelago nature and fishing history to the fore. In Plassi and Havula, museums and historic buildings offer a glimpse into local history.

Kalajoki at a glance

• Hiekkasärkät is an area of sand dunes and sandy beaches about 3.5 kilometres long.
• The highest dunes at Hiekkasärkät are almost 20 metres high.
• The Hiekkasärkät tourist centre has networks of routes for several activities that can be used year-round.
• Plassi is Kalajoki’s old town and a visitor destination with a village atmosphere and museums.
• The landscape of the Rahja Archipelago ranges from protected forests to outer islands in the open sea.

Dunes, trails and maritime nature

Hiekkasärkät stretches for about 3.5 kilometres as an area of sand dunes and sandy beaches. The highest dunes reach almost 20 metres. These dimensions give this stretch of coast a distinctive landscape: as well as the sandy beaches, the towering dunes are part of what makes Hiekkasärkät unique.

The tourist centre has year-round networks of routes for cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, jogging and horseback riding. This offers a range of ways to get active, from a walk to riding or cross-country skiing. Several providers of leisure activities at Hiekkasärkät also offer experiences ranging from karting to windsurfing. The experiences you include in your daily plans can therefore help shape your stay.

The marine nature centre at the Hiekkasärkät maritime tourist centre offers a different perspective on the coast. It focuses on the nature of the land-uplift coast, with changing exhibitions and guided tours adding to the experience. It is especially suited to a trip that takes an interest not only in outdoor activities and scenery, but also in the formation and nature of the coastal region.

Archipelago nature and seasonal water activities

In the Rahja Archipelago, coastal nature ranges from protected forests in the inner archipelago to outer islands in the open sea. Ancient shorelines and former harbour sites bear witness to land uplift. Traditional archipelago culture can also be seen in fishing villages, flowering meadows and groves. Natural history and human activity are part of the same regional story here.

In summer, the Rahja Archipelago is a sheltered destination for fishing, kayaking and SUP tours. If water activities are the focus of your trip, this seasonal offering provides a different emphasis from the route networks and leisure activities at Hiekkasärkät. When conditions are favourable, you can buy smoked whitefish caught by local fishermen in coastal waters on Maakalla; availability depends on the catch and seasonal supply.

Maakalla can be reached, for example, by the Bon Marin or Kiira boats, or by the two-masted galeas Ansio. Boat connections are seasonal, so the island is not a year-round fixture. If your trip includes Maakalla, planning your stay around the seasonal connections is essential.

Local history in Plassi, Havula and Kalajoki

Plassi is Kalajoki’s old town and a worthwhile visitor destination, with its village atmosphere and museums. In Plassi’s market square, the Fishing Museum displays a diverse collection of objects from local working life. Fiian’s Cottage is the only surviving example of the modest living conditions of an ordinary resident of Plassi in the first half of the 20th century. If you are interested in the stories of local people, the Kalajoki Local History Museum offers insights into past lives and ways of life, as well as information about notable people from Kalajoki.

Guided tours of Plassi can be booked through the Kalajoki guides on 050 536 5519; the organisation of this service may change. A guided tour lets you make the old town a distinct focus of your stay.

The Art Nouveau villa Havula was built in 1912 by sawmill manager Oskari Santaholma. It offers a glimpse into the life of a wealthy bourgeois household between 1910 and 1930. Visitors can also learn about Kalajoki’s sawmill and industrial history there. Exhibitions and events are held at Havula in summer, including, for example, theatre performances; specific dates may vary.

Kalajoki’s present-day brick church is also part of local history: it was completed in 1879 and designed by provincial architect F. W. Lüchow. Together, Havula, the museums and Plassi offer a cultural programme that explores different aspects of the past—from bourgeois life and local working life to the history of the town.

Maakalla and the history of the Kallankarit

The Maakalla Museum on Maakalla focuses on the formation of the Kalla islands through land uplift, as well as fishing and the islanders’ lives and livelihoods. The Kallan Museum on Maakalla covers the history of the Kallankarit and fishing in the region. The two museums thus offer different perspectives on the history of the islands and fishing.

The octagonal church on Maakalla was completed in 1780. It was designed by Simon Matinpoika Jylkkä, also known as Silven. The self-government of the Kallankarit Islands also has a long history: the Karikokous holds the highest decision-making and judicial authority. The tradition dates back to Swedish rule and is based on King Adolf Fredrik’s 1771 Haminan ordinance. The Karikokous meets annually on the Sunday closest to Jaakko’s Day on 25 July; the exact date varies.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

Kalajoki is located at the junction of highways 8 and 27. The Pohjanlahti Coastal Route passes through Kalajoki and was granted national tourist road status in 2010. Several bus services stop in Kalajoki, with connections from Kokkola and Oulu, as well as from Ylivieska. The nearest railway stations are in Kokkola and Ylivieska. As timetables may change, the specific departure is what matters when planning a particular bus or train journey.

Rahja adds archipelago nature and summer water activities to your stay. This lets you decide on the focus of your trip before looking for a hotel.

Discover more destinations on the town pages for Rautio, Pudasjärvi, Pyhäntä, Liminka, Lankojärvi, Strandby, Möttönen and Paimio.

Frequently asked questions about Kalajoki

What characterises the landscape of Hiekkasärkät?

Hiekkasärkät is an area of sand dunes and sandy beaches about 3.5 kilometres long. The highest dunes are almost 20 metres high.

Which activities are available on the route networks year-round?

The Hiekkasärkät tourist centre has year-round route networks for cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, jogging and horseback riding.

What can you learn at the museums on Maakalla?

The Maakalla Museum explains how the Kalla islands were formed through land uplift and covers fishing and the lives of the islanders. The Kallan Museum focuses on the history of the Kallankarit and regional fishing.

When does the Karikokous meet?

It meets annually on the Sunday closest to Jaakko’s Day on 25 July. The exact date therefore varies from year to year.

What should you plan for a boat trip to Maakalla?

Boat connections are seasonal. Possible vessels include Bon Marin, Kiira and the two-masted galeas Ansio, so the season should be part of your plans for visiting the island.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Ostrobothnia.