Austurvöllur
Encyclopedia
Austurvöllur is a public square in Reykjavik
, Iceland
. The square is a popular gathering place for the citizens of Reykjavik, and especially so during good weather due to the prevalence of cafés on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti. It has also been a focal point of protests due to the close location to the Parliament of Iceland.
Austurvöllur is surrounded by Vallarstræti, Pósthússtræti, Kirkjustræti and Thorvaldsensstræti. The latter of which is named after Bertel Thorvaldsen
, a statue of whom was, for a long period of time, present in the centre of Austurvöllur, now occupied by a statue of Jón Sigurðsson
. Around the square is the Parliament of Iceland building, the city's oldest church the Domkirkja, the Hotel Borg, and the dance club NASA.
Austurvöllur was much larger in the past. In the early 18th century, Austurvöllur stretched from Aðalstræti in the west towards the creek in the east, and Aðalstræti in the north towards Tjörn in the south.
used teargas to disperse rioters.
Voices in Action) began in Austurvöllur on 11 October 2008, and continued to be held every Saturday until the resignation of the government of Prime Minister
Geir Haarde
. The main demands of the protests were the resignations of the government, the Central Bank of Iceland
, and the board of The Financial Supervisory Authority.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The square is a popular gathering place for the citizens of Reykjavik, and especially so during good weather due to the prevalence of cafés on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti. It has also been a focal point of protests due to the close location to the Parliament of Iceland.
Austurvöllur is surrounded by Vallarstræti, Pósthússtræti, Kirkjustræti and Thorvaldsensstræti. The latter of which is named after Bertel Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish-Icelandic sculptor of international fame, who spent most of his life in Italy . Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen into a Danish/Icelandic family of humble means, and was accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts when he was eleven years old...
, a statue of whom was, for a long period of time, present in the centre of Austurvöllur, now occupied by a statue of Jón Sigurðsson
Jón Sigurðsson
Jón Sigurðsson was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.Born at Hrafnseyri, near Arnarfjörður in the Westfjords area of Iceland, he was the son of a pastor, Sigurður Jónsson. He moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1833 to study grammar and history at the university there...
. Around the square is the Parliament of Iceland building, the city's oldest church the Domkirkja, the Hotel Borg, and the dance club NASA.
Austurvöllur was much larger in the past. In the early 18th century, Austurvöllur stretched from Aðalstræti in the west towards the creek in the east, and Aðalstræti in the north towards Tjörn in the south.
Protests at Austurvöllur
There has been a tradition of protests taking place in Austurvöllur. One of the first of these such protests were the demonstrations which took in relation to the intended placement of radio towers across the country in 1905, when thousands of people gathered together in Austurvöllur. Several years later amajor riot occurred on 30 March 1949, when a resolution was adopted on Iceland's entry into NATO. On this occasion policeIcelandic Police
The Icelandic National Police is the main police force of Iceland. It is responsible for law enforcement on all Icelandic territories except at sea where the Icelandic Coast Guard enforces the law. The two services assist each other as needed.- History :...
used teargas to disperse rioters.
Raddir fólksins protests
Following the economic crisis of 2008, protests by the political organization Raddir fólksins (EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Voices in Action) began in Austurvöllur on 11 October 2008, and continued to be held every Saturday until the resignation of the government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Iceland
The Prime Minister of Iceland is Iceland's head of government. The prime minister is appointed formally by the President and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support....
Geir Haarde
Geir Haarde
Geir Hilmar Haarde was Prime Minister of Iceland from 15 June 2006 to 1 February 2009 and Chairman of the Icelandic Independence Party from 2005 to 2009. Geir initially led a coalition between his party and the Progressive Party...
. The main demands of the protests were the resignations of the government, the Central Bank of Iceland
Central Bank of Iceland
The Central Bank of Iceland is the central bank or reserve bank of Iceland. It has served in this capacity since 1961, when it was created by an act of the Alþingi out of the central banking department of Landsbanki Íslands, which had had the sole right of note issuance since 1927 and had...
, and the board of The Financial Supervisory Authority.