Assignment to preserve and make unique artefacts available below Riksplan
Extensive work is under way to renovate all of the Riksdag’s buildings and to develop the way in which they are used. The work is being carried out in stages and will, in the future, include the Riksdag’s premises below Riksplan. In February 2024, the Riksdag Board commissioned the Secretary-General of the Riksdag to launch an inquiry into how the unique historical environment under Riksplan can be made available to the public in connection with the planned reconstruction work. Museum expert Rebecka Nolmark was commissioned to conduct the inquiry. The inquiry was submitted to Riksdag Board in September 2025.
The Riksdag Administration is planning a new visitors’ and meeting centre, as well as an extra Chamber below Riksplan. The reason is that the Riksdag needs more meeting rooms, including an additional room where the whole of the Riksdag can meet. The Riksdag also wants improved opportunities to receive groups of visitors and to arrange meetings to which the public are invited. In view of this, the Medieval Museum, which was located below Riksplan, has closed and is preparing to move to other premises.
Valuable historical environment
Since Riksplan is a unique place with a valuable historical environment, it is important that the public can continue to visit it. There are several historical remains there, including parts of the town wall from the days of Gustav Vasa, and a cemetery wall. It should be possible for the public to visit these historical remains regardless of whether they also wish to visit the Riksdag or not.
Assignment from the Riksdag Board
In February 2024, the Riksdag Board assigned the Secretary-General of the Riksdag the task of conducting an in-depth analysis of how the historical values below Riksplan should best be taken care of and made accessible to the public, while at the same time ensuring that the Riksdag’s need for extra premises is met.
Riksplan should be used to strengthen and deepen the story of the Riksdag and the history of Sweden’s system of government. The assignment includes an analysis of a number of different solutions for achieving this. An inquiry was appointed for this purpose.
The assignment from the Riksdag Board also stated that the Medieval Museum and, if necessary, other experts should be consulted during the inquiry. This may involve, for example, expertise in the areas of history, learning, museum technology and architecture. The inquiry should also acquaint itself with the suggestions put forward by the public. A parliamentary reference group consisting of experts from all the parties represented in the Riksdag has been involved in the inquiry.
Inquiry completed
The inquiry on how to preserve and make available the unique historical environment under Riksplan to the public is now completed. The inquiry was submitted to the Riksdag Board on 24 September 2025.
A concept together with a model that visualises ideas for how the unique environment below Riksplan can be brought alive and continue to be made available to the public – while also meeting the Riksdag's need for new premises, has been drawn up and is presented in the inquiry. During the autumn, the model will be on display to the public in the Riksdag Library at Storkyrkobrinken 7A in the Old Town of Stockholm.
The process forward
The inquiry into how the unique historical environment below Riksplan can be preserved and made available to the public will be used as a basis for continued work on renovations and conversions planned in the Riksdag buildings in the coming years. The Riksdag Administration is now continuing to investigate in depth how the premises at Riksplan will be used for both parliamentary activities and for visitors.
Renovation and restoration work of the East Wing of the Riksdag will continue for some time. The inquiry will form the basis of continued work, in which both the views of the inquiry and cultural and historical values will be taken into account. A preliminary study has been launched to prepare future projects. The preliminary study will be reported in 2027.
You can read more about the renovation and developments regarding the various buildings of the Riksdag on the page entitled “Riksdag buildings for the future”.
Riksdag buildings for the future
Further information
- Report – Helgeandsholmen – en plats med potential Uppdrag om tillvaratagande och tillgängliggörande av historiska värden under Riksplan, med mera (pdf, 29 MB) (in Swedish)
- Assignment to safeguard and make available historical values below the Riksplan etc (in Swedish, pdf, 54 kB)
- Meeting of the Riksdag Board on 14 February 2024 (in Swedish, pdf, 184 kB)
- Meeting of the Riksdag Board on 24 September 2025 (in Swedish, pdf, 329 kB)