ESTONIA
Look and behold!

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Estonia• facts • national symbols •“Society is like a river, the flow rate of which is determined by thewill of its members, the environment around the streambed andthe opportunities of history. Our history is movement – departureand arrival. Compared to the other countries of the world, we aremuch better prepared for this era, because we have a homelandthat is available on the web, which is a fulcrum for its citizens andits e-residents.”
Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia

Official name: Republic of Estonia

Currency: euro (EUR)

Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõmFlag: blue, black and white/My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy/

National bird: barn swallow(F. Pacius)

National flower: cornflower

Capital: Tallinn

Number of islands: 2222

Area: 45 339 km2 (17 505 sq. mi)

Highest point:

Population: 1 315 635

Suur Munamägi /Official language: Estonian

Great Egg Hill/, 318 m (1043.3 ft)

Head of state: President Kersti Kaljulaid

Member of NATO, EU, UN, OSCE,

Form of government: parliamentary republicOECD and WTO (in addition to several

National holiday: 24 February

other organisations)(Independence Day, 1918)

Read more:• www.estonia.ee• www.visitestonia.com/en• www.valitsus.ee/en• www.estonianworld.com• www.events.estonia.ee• www.facebook.com/valismin/• www.riigikogu.ee/en/parliament-of-estonia/• www.president.ee/en/ The country withthe most erratic
boulders in Europe

What LAND is this?

““What land is this, with no mountain in sight,
merely forests endless and bogs and swamps,
with a people full of magical might,
with peculiar songs and stories for rite.”
Peeter Volkonski, musician, actor and poet

There are just over a million people in Estonia –­as many as in a city like Milan, Dallas or Munich. Since there are so few of us, it is almost like a family,­as nearly everybody knows one another. It would not raise eyebrows if your classmate was the prime
minister, your neighbour was the president, your uncle was a Grammy nominee, your brother was­a foun­der of Skype or your professor was this year’s nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

What land is this that carries a mystical appeal like a setting for a fairy-tale where miracles ands­ tories with happy endings are possible? In Estonia, people work hard and tinker in order to make theiractivities even more efficient. Thanks to IT developments, this country boasts cutting-edge state andbanking services. Opening a bank account, founding a company, filing your tax returns and registe­r­
ing your car are just a matter of a few (dozen) minutes.
Estonia bears the burden of ­a troubled history. The country was deprived of independence with­violence, yet it was regained without shedding a single drop of blood. Scars do not fade easily, but­Estonians have managed to emerge as winners from the direst situations. Once the country was free
again, the nation faced a­ clean slate. Everything had to be started from scratch. Decisions had to be
made, risks had to be taken and the country nee­ded to be built.
Thanks to their efficient arrangements, Estonians are blessed with plenty of spare time, but i­nsteadof revelling or going on holidays, they often prefer the forest, the islands or an empty beach – quiet,
purity and freedom. Reconnecting with one’s roots and finding harmony in nature serve as a meansfor charging one’s batteries, a breeding ground for new ideas and a safe haven in which to act as awhole and healthy human being.

 Estonians celebrate thelongest day of the year festively.
On Midsummer’s Eve (23 June),people spend time outdoors,
jump over over bonfires and try tofind fern flowers at midnightHeart’s home
• history • singing to freedom • loyalty“

Our lives are not only connected to a particular country;
the way we live in a certain place is just as important.”
Arvo Pärt, composer

In order to understand the loyalty of Estonians to theirland and their roots, a brief history lesson is required. Estonians are one of the oldest peoples in

Europe who have continuously lived in the same location. The first people to inhabit this corner of the Earth were hereas early as almost 11 000 years ago. Time and again, Estonia has been occupied by foreign powers. On 24 February
1918, the Republic of Estonia was declared, against all odds. During the years of independence, the Estonian economy
and culture were allowed to develop. A few decades later, amid global political turmoil, Estonia lost its independence formore than 50 years. In the late 1980s, a new period of national awakening began. The so-called Singing Revolution took
place, culminating in the restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia on 20 August 1991.
 Approximately half of the inhabitantsof Estonia have sung or danced in a songor dance festival at least once in their lives

Love for one’s homeland is fundamental to being Estonian. The song festivals have played amajor role in creating and maintaining national sentiment. While the first song
festival in 1869 was more of a festivity celebrating the 50th anniversary of the abolition of the serfdom of Livonian peasantry, later song festivals would contributeto social cohesion and patriotic sentiment. In the final years of the crucial 1980s,
the Singing Revolution served as a weapon for regaining Estonia’s independence
without bloodshed. The song festival, which is on the UNESCO Representative
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, features tens of thousands ofperformers on stage with two or three times as many spectators. In addition to
enjoying the concert, people come to partake in the magic of shared feelings, being as one and the rapturous atmosphere.
 The house-barn is Estonia’s contribution to
the world’s architectural history. People still live
in renovated buildings of this type

 Folk costume is­also popular among
young Estonians

“In every port in the world, at least two Estonians canbe found”. This saying, originally from a Hemingway novel, is confirmed all around the world.

­ stonians are naturally interested in matters t­ aking place elsewhere. Throughout history, people have come toE­Estonia and either left or stayed. Various nations and ethnic groups s­ uch as the Coastal Swedes, Old Believers,­Baltic Germans and Jews have lived together side by side and enriched Estonia’s way of life with their culture and­customs. Presently, Estonia is a place of residence or work for people from approximately 150 different ethnic
backgrounds.
The great figures of the past and their deeds have played a leading role with respect to the future. The­Krusenstern, a four-masted barque that sails around the world, is a token of respect of sorts for A­ dam Johann
von Krusenstern, whose circumnavigation of the globe was vital for research, especially into the coasts and indigenous peoples of the Pacific Ocean. Estonians’ curiosity regarding mountains and seas, outer space and­unknown lands is almost as passionate as it was centuries ago when Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellings­
hausen, a man hailing from the island of Saaremaa, became one of the first three people to reach Antarctica.

Smart ideas“• e-governance • innovation • digital society

For young Estonians, the Internet is much more than justa service – it is a symbol of democracy and freedom.”
Linnar Viik, IT visionary

In Estonia, access to the Internet

 Paperfree meetings:
e-government
sessions savepeople time andare good for theenvironment,with all decisions madebeing available
to interested
parties online

is essentially considered afundamental right. 98% of Estonia has Internet coverage. Fast wireless Internet connections areavailable in every library and café and on every long-distance bus. After Estonia regained its­independence, infrastructure that guided the activities of the state to the Internet was created.
­Nowadays, no Estonian could imagine being frustrated wasting time, money and paper on essential daily activities. Instead, they file their tax returns online, check their kids’ grades in the e-schooland participate in i-voting. Estonia has e-governance, an e-health system, an electronic bordercrossing system, mobile parking and a platform for founding a company that takes just 15 minutes
to complete. Estonia was the first nation in history to offer internet voting in a nationwide election in2005. Internet voting (i-voting or online voting) is one of the one of the many voting methods bywhich citizens can vote. For example, in the 2019 parliamentary elections, 43.8% of all votes were
cast by i-voting. Estonia is the first country to offer e-Residency, a government-issued digital ID
available to anyone in the world.

Estonia as ­a pioneer

Today’s world is developing rapidly,­especially with regard to technology andthe Internet, which have become part ofour daily lives.
Estonia is a pioneer in innovative solutions relating to e-governance, e-democracy and cybersecurity and know­
ledgepertaining to open information societies.
Estonia also shares its knowledge and­experience in the field of e-services withothers. This is a field in which the country
is known for its reliability.

 The Starshipr­ obot courier isgaining ­more andmore ­renown,­particularly in theUS, the UK and­Germany

Estonia has shared its e-governancetechnology and experience in Europe andelsewhere. The prime ministers of Estonia and Finland have entered into what is believed to be the first digitally signed
agreement in the world of its kind, by means of which e-services will be ‘exported’ to Finland. This means that the Estonian X-Road environment is now functioning in a cross-border capacity. If we compare a state’s information system toa city with many different buildings (databases), the X-Road is like a street network through which data traffic moves­between databases. The X-Road was named after its comparison with an intersection where different databases andsystems meet in order to exchange information.

Estonia: a home to successstories. We have excellent start-ups that try to

make their mark (and emerge as winners) in the midst ofcompetition from millions of start-ups around the world.
One of the most famous services developed by Estonians
is Transfer­Wise, a way of transferring funds and currency
exchange w­ ithout going directly through banks. The­financial software Erply, the smart flowerpot Click & Grow
and the automated couriers of Starship are all well known.

“

To make the world’s
next best thing,it has to be a tiny bit
better than theworld’s best.”
Kristo Käärmann,founder of TransferWise

The fact that Estonian children are just as smart andeager to learn as their p­ arents is demon-

HOW TORECOGNISEAN ESTONIAN

strated by ever better results in the Programme for International Student Assessment ­(PISA). Estonian students
have achieved particularly good results in science.

There’s probably
a grain of truth in
the following humorous suggestions on identifying
an Estonian:• they haven’t seena bus ticket on paper for ages;• they consider it­natural for every
country to haveInternet access­everywhere;• they don’t remember that there
are other methodsof payment thanelectronic means; Basic programming skills are already taught in kindergartens and primary schools

Read more:• www.e-estonia.com• www.ega.ee• www.eesti.ee/en/• www.valitsus.ee/en• www.startupestonia.ee• www.ria.ee/en• www.ccdcoe.org• www.studyinestonia.ee• www.ajujaht.ee/en/• www.garage48.org• they’re unable toprovide their signature on paper as
they only use adigi­tal ­signature.

The touch of nature• life in the midst of nature • recreation • health • pure food •“Estonia still has so many empty spaces and pristine nature, while electricity andthe Internet are available in nearly every corner of the country. This makes it­possible for us to lead a lifestyle that’s become a rarity in some countries in ‘Old
Europe’. When I’m in my summer cottage, I’m able to take a shower in themorning, load the dishwasher, read the news on my tablet and then disappear
with a basket for hours to go mushrooming or pick cranberries in the bog without
encountering a single person.”Tiia Toomet, writer, founder of Tartu Toy Museum

Estonia has one of the largest
proportions of forest in the world

with approximately half of its land covered by spruces, pines,­aspens et al. If this abundance were to be distributed between the
country’s citizens, everyone would be given 1.3 hectares. F­ orests
are part of the Estonian identity. Respect for nature is nurtured
at a young age. As such, children are also i­nvolved in the
project Estonia’s 100 Oaks which will culminate in young
oaks towering in different corners of the country on the
100th anniversary of the Republic of E
­ stonia.

 Estonians areblessed with four
distinct seasons

The Estonian subconscious retains the ancestral belief that everything in nature –trees, stones, birds and animals – has a spirit. Getting one’s bearings based on nature’s signs, forecasting the weather and taking the seasons into consideration are passed down to this day. If someone in
the family catches a cold, every Estonian mother has
medicinal plants stocked up – linden flowers, raspberry stalks, calendula and primrose. The tea brewed
from any of them served together with local honey isthe best cure. Edible plants growing in forests andfields are a big trend in gastronomy. Young stinging
nettles are added to soups, wild masterwort is used
to stuff pastries, a fantastic syrup is made from
spruce tips and rowan fruit is used to make jam.
Wild strawberries, chanterelles and sorrel growright on the side of the road – just take a moment topick them. There is plenty of unspoilt nature in Estonia and the keyword “organic” is increasingly becoming the standard for food production and agriculture. As such, everybody is able to get their shareof these delicacies.

 Estonians are gatherers: each autumn the forests fill withpeople gathering berries and mushrooms. And when it comesto prime mushroom-picking territory, Estonians might evenkeep the secret from their best friends!

 In kilometres,
the Estonian coastline is as long as thejourney from one
end of the country
to the other The Tartu Marathon is like the song
festival of winter, withskiing enthusiasts
from all over theworld eager to takepart in it

Estonians are not afraid of nature,quite the opposite – when they want to relax,
they go into the forest for a run or go for a skate on the sea ice. In Estonia, the sea is often poorly navigable due to thickice during periods of severe cold in the winter. However, even in times gone by, people did not let themselves be isolated from the rest of the world and instead conducted trade with horse and carriage on ice roads. Even today Estonia
boasts Europe’s longest ice road, stretching 26 km from the island of Hiiumaa to the mainland. Skating marathons, hikes
and fishing competitions are held on the ice. Winter swimming and going for a splash in holes drilled into the ice is commonplace even in the coldest temperatures.

In order for humans and nature to coexist
peacefully, people must contribute to nature and take care of their surroundings. The “Let’s Do It!” collective clean-up day – which started as a grassroots Estonian
project with more than 50 000 volunteers turning up ina single day to collect and dispose of all kinds of rubbish
from roadsides, bushes and forests – has now spread toevery continent thanks to Estonia’s initiative. Over 100
countries and millions of volunteers have joined the initiative. World Clean-up Day 15.09.2018 – Estonia’s gift to the world.

Estonia might
not have tall
mountains or
deep valleys,

but its landscape is nevertheless diverse: bogs, ancient
woodlands, meadows, alvars,
islets, limestone bluffs, islands
and peninsulas. Many of themremain unspoilt and extremelyrich in species. Estonia has fivenational parks with miles ofboardwalks, rest areas, campsites and places for barbecues
and bonfires built for visitors.
In Soomaa National Park you
can experience the meaning ofa ‘fifth season’. During thespring floods, this area starts
to resemble Venice – and themain means of transport for
local residents is boats. Matsalu and Vilsandi National Parks
are two of the most importantnesting and migration sites forwaterfowl in Europe.

Read more:• www.visitestonia.com• www.letsdoitworld.org• www.looduskalender.ee/n/en• www.estonianwildlifetours.com• www.rmk.ee/en• www.estonianfood.eu“

Estonia is like a wild strawberry – it is primal and small,
hard to find, and those who
are unable to find it will notnotice it or learn to appreci­
ate it. But once you have it inyour grasp and have made it
your own, it is one of thebest things in the world.”
Toomas Hendrik Ilves,
President of the Republic ofEstonia 2006-2016

Creativity“• music • literature • art •We strive to be trees in the landscape of
the world’s culture and to feel and takeroot of exactly where our language andcultural history should be”.
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor

This little patch ofland on the coastof the Baltic Sea
gives rise to creativity, allows for the spirit to de-velop naturally and for one’s thoughts
to be expressed. Reflection exercises,
opinion festivals and contests hosted
by TeamLab, Ajujaht and Garage48 areheld in order to generate new ideas.
Tradition and innovation have intertwined. Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn
Black Nights Film Festival, Tallinn Architecture Biennale, Jazzkaar, Tallinn Design Festival and the Saaremaa Opera
Festival have become international
events. Estonia has plenty of talented
people thanks to whose creations thecountry has become better known
around the world. The most renowned
among them is without doubt Arvo
Pärt, whose musical creations speak to
many people worldwide.
• www.tmw.ee• www.saaremaaopera.eu/en• www.jazzkaar.ee/en/• www.tab.ee• www.disainioo.ee/en

 Tallinn Music Week is the biggest
talent festival in Northern Europe

Estonian design, fashion, music and art are be-coming more widely known and recognised
around the world. Estonian designers are taking part in an increasing number of fashion
weeks and their unique collections are also beloved of celebrities.
A Grammy – the most coveted prize in theinternational music community – has been
awarded to Estonian musicians a total of fourtimes, three of them in the category of Best
Choral Performance, which r­ eaffirms the quality and traditions of Estonian choral singing.
Estonia is also well known for ‘Estonia’­pianos, E­ stelon speakers and Paiste cymbals.
 Estonian
National
Museum Estonian design exhibition“Size Doesn’t Matter” in Oxo
Tower Wharf, London

Estonians appreciate creativity.

This is reflected in the various creative quarters of Tallinn, Tartu,
Pärnu, Viljandi, Narva and other smaller towns throughout thecountry. Creative quarters often operate in old factories or complexes and provide an excellent opportunity to spend time or workin an environment that inspires and presents possibilities for independent entrepreneurship.

Read more:• www.arvopart.ee/en/arvo-partcentre/• www.jazzkaar.ee/en• www.laulupidu.ee/en• www.lennusadam.eu• www.ajaloomuuseum.ee/en• www.erm.ee/en• www.disainikeskus.ee/en• www.edl.ee/en• www.poff.ee• www.looveesti.ee/en• www.telliskivi.eu/en• www.aparaaditehas.ee• www.estoniandesignhouse.ee/en• www.lespetites.ee KumuArt Museum The Estonian capital has awonderfully preserved Old Town,
which has been named a
UNESCO World Heritage Site

The medieval spirit is alive and well in Tallinn.

The network of streets and alleys and the boundaries of plots that developed between the 11th and 15th
centuries are still there to be marveled. And the streets are full of life! You can grab a coffee or taste thebest that chefs and confectioners have to offer, pass by the studios of textile and glass craftsmen, visit a
museum or go to a concert, stop in at the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in ­Europe and enjoy
the wonderful skyline of the city from one of its viewing platforms. The modern ­architecture of Estonia
is characterised by a minimalistic Nordic style with influences of coastal villages and farm buildings. The
most widely used materials are timber, brick and concrete, just as they were for world-famous architect
Louis Kahn, hailing from Saaremaa, in whose honour thematic days are held on the island.

Concept: Estonian Ministry of Foreign AffairsCompiled by: Ajakirjade Kirjastus
Designer: Janett Rikkand
Printing by: Lakrito OÜ

Photographs: Sven Zacek, Mart Vares, Mait Jüriado,
Rene Altrov, Aron Urb, Annika Haas, Mart Sepp, Arne Ader, ­Tarmo Haud, Starship Technologies, Tauno Tõhk, ­Josh Redman,
Shutterstock, www.visitestonia.com
PRACTISE YOUR ESTONIAN:• Tere! – Hello!
• Aitäh – Thank you• Kuidas sul läheb? – How are you?
• Nägemist – Bye• Palun – Please• Head isu! – Bon appetit!
• Õnnelik – Happy• Kuuuurija – One who explores the Moon
• Terviseks! – Cheers!
READ ESTONIAN LITERATURE:• Truth and Justice (A. H. Tammsaare)• Border State (Tõnu Õnnepalu)• Sailing against the Wind (Jaan Kross)• The Bees (Meelis Friedenthal)• Things in the Night (Mati Unt)
• The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Andrus Kivirähk)• The ‘Apothecary Melchior’ series ofmedieval murder mysteries (Indrek Hargla)• Shape of Time (Doris Kareva)• The Cavemen Chronicle (Mihkel Mutt)• www.estlit.ee • www.filmi.ee/en

WATCH ESTONIAN FILMS:• Truth and Justice (Tanel Toom)• The Little Comrade (Moonika Siimets)• Ahto. Chasing a Dream (Jaanis Valk)• Rodeo – Taming a Wild Country (Raimo Jõerand, ­Kiur Aarma)• November (Rainer Sarnet)• 1944 (Elmo Nüganen)• The Singing Revolution (James & Maureen Trusty)• In the Crosswind (Martti Helde)• Disco and Atomic War (Jaak Kilmi)• Arvo Pärt – Even If I Lose Everything (Dorian Supin)• Lotte and the Lost Dragons (Janno Põldma, Heiki Ernits)+ collaborations• Tangerines (Zaza Urušadze)• The Fencer (Klaus Härö)