New Sweden
Swedish colony in North America (1638–1655)
Photos by Jessica Pamp, Peter van der Meulen, Jon Flobrant on Unsplash
About
New Sweden (Swedish: Nya Sverige) was a colony of the Swedish Empire between 1638 and 1655 along the lower reaches of the Delaware River in what is now Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Established during the Thirty Years' War when Sweden was a great power, New Sweden was part of the Swedish efforts to colonize the Americas.
Settlements were established on both sides of the Delaware River. Fort Christina, located in what is now Wilmington, Delaware, was the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley and was named after Christina, Queen of Sweden. The settlers were mostly Swedes, Finns, a number of Dutch, and some Germans. New Sweden was conquered by the Dutch Republic in 1655 and incorporated into the Dutch colony of New Netherland.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Wilmington, Delaware
Largest city in Delaware, United States
0.7 mi away
Brandywine Creek (Christina River tributary)
Creek in Pennsylvania and Delaware, US
0.5 mi away
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
Sports museum in Delaware, United States
1.4 mi away
Wilmington Rail Viaduct
United States historic place
1.2 mi away
Delaware Colony
Part of Pennsylvania in North America (1664–1776)
1.1 mi away
Kalmar Nyckel
Swedish ship built by the Dutch
330 ft awayPlaces to eat nearby
Finding places to eat…
Traveler reviews
Tickets & tours
Tickets and tours for New Sweden
We may earn a commission from some of these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Photos from Unsplash, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA); facts from Wikipedia; maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, weather from Open-Meteo. Huginn’s tips are AI-written — check prices, hours and entry rules before you go.