Pirkkala — VanSky 88 (Ideal)

A 47-year-old man in Oulu, Finland, has been sentenced to prison for stealing a motorhome worth over €50,000. In late October–early November 2023, he broke into a commercial premises, stole property and the motorhome keys, then drove the vehicle away, damaging it and crashing through a fence. He later drove the motorhome into a ditch, rendering it a total loss.

The Western Uusimaa police are searching for a missing man, approximately 70 years old, who left his home in Vihti, Selki, on Thursday 23 July at around 9:45 a.m. in a white Hymer motorhome with license plate HCZ-602. The man has short light-brown hair and glasses and may be traveling by motorhome or other means. Anyone with sightings of the man or the vehicle is asked to call the emergency number 112.

Finland has a thriving culture of overnight stops in places not designated for camping. Yle journalists interviewed travelers in three cities and identified the main rules and restrictions. The key distinction is between permitted overnight parking and prohibited camping: setting out chairs, a table or a grill is already considered a violation. Landowners and municipalities may restrict parking, for example by introducing parking discs.

The closing ceremony of the Iskelmäviikot festival in Kiuruvesi has been cancelled due to heavy rain. The event was scheduled for noon on the town square, featuring community singing with an orchestra and the arrival of the Yle 100 bus. The previous day, water flooded the festival area, requiring assistance from the North Savo rescue service. According to organizers, water remains on the caravan site, and some vehicles may need to be towed out with a tractor.

Hannu and Soile Kivikoski, who have been caravanning across Finland for over 40 years, shared their experience. They won a seasonal pitch at the Sääksi camping site in Nurmijärvi, where the annual fee is under €900. The couple owns two caravans: a new Fendt over 8 meters long (bought for €50,000 in 2021) and a 20-year-old Kabe. They advise beginners to rent a caravan before buying.

A caravan caught fire on the premises of a building in Koivu, Tervola, early on July 17. The fire completely destroyed the caravan and damaged two other vehicles. No injuries were reported; the cause of the fire is unknown.