Bollhustäppan, Square in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden
Bollhustäppan is a small plaza tucked behind the Finnish Church in Stockholm's Old Town, featuring stone pavement, wooden benches, and soft lighting. Two gates open onto Trädgårdsgatan, making the square easy to locate and navigate within the narrow medieval district.
The site hosted two charitable institutions, Fredagsalmosan and Söndagsalmosan, during the late 15th century. An electrical plant was later constructed here to power the Royal Palace before the location became the public square it is today.
The sandstone and wrought-iron sculpture "Pojke som tittar på månen" ("Boy Looking at the Moon"), known as Järnpojken or "Olle", was made by Liss Eriksson in 1954 and inaugurated in 1967. It recalls the artist's childhood nights spent sitting on his bed staring at the moon through the window. Visitors rub the shiny head and leave coins, which the Finnish Church collects.
The square is easily accessed through two gates from Trädgårdsgatan and offers benches for sitting in a quieter area of the Old Town. The location sits at the heart of the medieval district and is within walking distance of major attractions, though the surrounding narrow streets can be confusing to navigate.
The sandstone and wrought-iron figure is polished shiny on its head from being touched, and Stockholm historian Martin Stugart notes that the coins left for the boy are collected by the Finnish Church, which tries to limit the practice. Local lore holds that taking the coins brings bad luck, since the child sees everything and forgets nothing.
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