Old customs and warehouse, Customs warehouse in Kruununhaka, Finland
The Old Customs and Warehouse at Mariankatu 3 is a stone building that replaced an earlier wooden structure from the 1730s. Its solid walls and small windows show the practical design typical of storage buildings from that era.
Samuel Berner designed this customs facility in the mid-18th century, with the final structure completed in 1765 to handle Helsinki's growing maritime trade. The shift to stone construction marked a significant improvement over earlier wooden buildings for long-term storage.
The building reflects early Finnish stone construction methods and remains a recognizable part of the Kruununhaka neighborhood's character. Its presence alongside the Senate Square shows how this area served as the administrative center of Helsinki.
The building is protected under Helsinki's town planning rules, so visitors can see its exterior from Mariankatu even though full interior access may be limited. It is easy to reach on foot from the Senate Square and sits among other historic structures in a walkable neighborhood.
The building is part of the Törnrosen complex and stands as one of Helsinki's earliest stone constructions, showing the shift from wood to stone building methods. Its location was so important for commerce that similar customs buildings were being built across Europe during this same period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
