Nurmijärvi: More Than Just Cars, a Place for a Good Life

A Finnish reader has penned a defense of the municipality of Nurmijärvi, pushing back against a portrayal in Helsingin Sanomat that depicted it as a place with "no reason to live" and only the "hum of cars." The reader, Henriina Rantala, a deputy chair of the municipal council, argues this view is one-sided and does a disservice to the municipality's over 45,000 residents.

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Nurmijärvi is described in the HS article mainly as a place where you only hear the hum of cars and where 'there is no reason to live'. Such a generalization does injustice to the municipality, whose over 45,000 residents live in very different environments.

Rantala emphasizes that Nurmijärvi is not solely defined by its bustling center, Klaukkala. She points to other areas like Rajamäki and Kirkonkylä, which offer a more tranquil atmosphere. Many residents, she notes, value the ability to live close to nature while still having reasonable access to workplaces, services, and recreational activities.

The reader also counters the notion that Nurmijärvi lacks community. While acknowledging that community might manifest differently in a large municipality compared to a small village, she highlights its presence in sports clubs, associations, and local events. These elements, she argues, contribute to the municipality's strategy of promoting a smooth daily life, community spirit, vitality, and nature-oriented living, which has made it an attractive place for decades.

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It is worth remembering that Nurmijärvi is not just Klaukkala. Klaukkala is a growing and lively town, where there is naturally more traffic than in other towns in the municipality. In other towns, such as Rajamäki and Kirkonkylä, the atmosphere is different, a notch calmer.

Rantala concludes by asserting that while the strengths of smaller rural communities like Kuhmoinen are undeniable, a single person's experience does not represent the whole picture. For many, Nurmijärvi provides the desired elements for a good life: proximity to nature, essential services, and the opportunity to build a life and find a community. She proudly identifies herself as living "in the countryside" in Nurmijärvi.

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For many of us, Nurmijärvi offers exactly what we hope for from a good everyday life. Proximity to nature, services, and the opportunity to build a life that suits oneself and to find one's own community.