24 JUNE 2026
Dannemora Mine
Dannemora mine is one of Sweden's oldest and most historically significant iron mines. With documented operations since 1481, it was the country's largest iron mine during the 1700s — and the high-quality Dannemora iron was a sought-after raw material throughout Europe.
Five Centuries of Mining
Iron ore extraction at Dannemora is first documented in 1481. For a long time, the mine was one of the most important in the country — the ore contains approximately fifty percent iron and is almost free from phosphorus and sulfur, which produces iron of exceptional quality. During the 18th century, Dannemora was Sweden's largest iron mine and Dannemora iron was exported to England for the manufacture of weapons and tools.
Production increased steadily: in the 1870s, 40,000 tons per year were produced, and after modernization in 1955, output reached 600,000 tons. During the 1970s, more than one million tons of raw ore were processed per year. The mine reached a depth of 620 meters.
On March 31, 1992, the mine closed as extraction was no longer considered profitable. In 2012, it reopened under the company Dannemora Mineral AB and was officially reinaugurated by Carl XVI Gustaf on June 13 of that year. Today the mine is owned by Grangex, which in 2023 received permission to resume operations.
Historic Technical Heritage
Sweden's first steam engine was installed in Dannemora during the 18th century — a construction designed to combat the constant flooding problems in the mine shaft. The 72-meter-high mine tower is protected as a historic building and one of the region's most iconic industrial landmarks.
Visiting Dannemora Mine
During the summer season, guided tours of the mine area are arranged. Visitors can look down into Storrymningen — Europe's largest open pit — and hear stories about work in the rock and the struggle against water. Dannemora Mineral Museum and the Mine Museum are included in the tours. The mine collection spans from medieval rock-mining tools to a velvet-upholstered royal carriage used by Oscar II during his visit in 1875.
- Location: Dannemora, Östhammar Municipality, Uppsala County
- Documented operations: Since 1481
- Depth: 620 meters
- Open pit: Storrymningen — Europe's largest
- Visits: Guided tours in summer season, Dannemora Mineral Museum