Vastervik (Sweden)

Vastervik is a port town in Sweden's Smaland Province (Kalmar County), with population over 35,000. Like many Swedish port cities, Vastervik's economy is largely based on its harbor. The municipality houses ~3700 companies and ~5000 holiday homes.

Port Vastervik (locode SEVVK) is a deepwater port at the mouth of Tjustbygden (Tjust archipelago) located on Lucerna Island, approx 1 km from downtown. The Port is operated by Smalandshamnar AB and since 2000 is rented (from the municipality) by Rederi AB Transatlantic (via its subsidiaries Osterstroms Rederi AB and Vasterviks Logistik och Industri AB).

Smaller ships and yachts can dock in downtown, at a wharf dedicated to smaller-sized vessels wharf. The commercial port (Lucernahamnen, on Lucerna Island) is deepwater and road- and rail-connected to the city. Main cargoes handled at Lucernahamnen include petroleum, forest and steel products. Port Vastervik/Lucernahamnen has a total quay length 450 m (1476 ft), max depth 9,5 m (32 ft), Ro-Ro ship berths (serving ferries and car carriers), approx 0,08 km2 (8 hectares) of asphalted terminal areas.

Lucernahamnen also accommodates cruise ships and ferries. The independent passenger shipping company Gotlandsbaten AB provides regularly scheduled daily crossings (during summer only) on the route Vastervik-Visby (Gotland Island). The Swedish ferry company DESTINATION GOTLAND operates the route Visby-Nynashamn (port to Oskarshamn and Vastervik) with crossing time ~3 hours.

Domestic tourism is major economic sector. During summer, Vastervik is visited by numerous tourists enjoying outdoor activities like yachting and sailing, canoeing, camping, climbing. Many of the visiting tourists are daytrippers. A major tourist attraction in Vastervik is the recreational and residential complex (hotel, restaurant, apartments) in the entrance to Gamlebyviken Bay/near Stegeholms Slottsruin (Stegeholm Castle Ruin) constructed by Bjorn Kristian Ulvaeus (1945-born musician, singer, songwriter, producer, a former member of the Swedish supergroup ABBA).

Downtown Vastervik houses the Batsmansstugorna (a historically valuable area of mid-18th-century buildings/boatmen's cabins/cottages). The cottages (clustered in Batsmansgrand) were initially occupied by military sailors and housed their families. Other tourist attractions include the city's oldest building - Sankta Gertruds/St Gertrud's Church (15th century/looted and burned by Danes in the 17th century, rebuilt in 1672, has an 18th-century organ) and Stegeholms Slottsruin (14th-century castle ruins on Slottsholmen/Gamlebyviken). Stegeholms hosts the annual Vasterviks Visfestival (a music show festival held since 1966/making it Sweden's oldest).