History

Work on the building of the present Göteborg began in 1619 on the initiative of King Gustav II Adolf. There had been a number of previous settlements along the estuary of the Göta River.

In the eighteenth century Göteborg became the leading port for the export of Swedish iron and timber. The city also became the centre of trade with Chinese products. Göteborg trading houses were responsible for both exports and imports. Many of the influential merchants came from other countries around the North Sea. They often played an important part in community development.

The East India Company was a Swedish company which traded with East Asia, particularly with China. It was founded in 1731 and closed in 1813. In September 1745 the East Indiaman “Götheborg” ran aground in the approaches to the harbour – and sank with all its cargo. The ship in the illustration (right) is a replica of the “Götheborg”.

Photo: Anna Jolfors

Trade and shipping reigned supreme until the mid-nineteenth century, when manufacturing took off. The early twentieth century saw the founding of a number of Göteborg companies that are today known all over the world. Shipowning and shipbuilding later accelerated. In the 1960s Göteborg was one of the world’s biggest shipbuilding cities. The 1970s brought the shipbuilding crisis, whereas the car industry and the public sector expanded. Alongside Volvo and SKF, many small and medium-sized companies sprang up.
Today the City is striving to develop higher education and research and to achieve a diversification of industry and commerce.

Read more about the history of Göteborg (in Swedish)