Vännäs

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Vännäs is a town in northern Sweden, in Västerbotten County. It is the seat of Vännäs Municipality and had about 9,000 residents in 2024. The name dates back to 1535.

Vännäs is known as the hometown of the hardcore band Refused. Nearby is the Vännäs TV Tower, a tall broadcasting mast.

The municipality is twinned with Cameri (Italy), Hemnes (Norway) and Storkyro (Finland). The annual Vännäs Days festival takes place in the second weekend of July and attracts about 58,000 visitors, making it the biggest festival in Västerbotten.

The Main Line Through Upper Norrland railway passes through Vännäs, making it an important rail junction. Today trains run to Umeå, Vindeln, and Luleå.

In town there are two supermarkets (ICA and Coop), a Systembolaget, cafes, pizzerias, and several hairdressers. Pingstkyrkan runs a second-hand shop on the main street. There is also a 24-hour district veterinarian.

Education: Liljaskolan is the main upper secondary school with about 1,100 students. Hammarskolan serves years 7–9 (about 250 pupils). Vegaskolan serves years 0–9.

Attractions include a motor museum in an old aircraft hangar, with cars, bikes, tractors, planes, and helicopters. Vännäs Badcamping offers an outdoor water park with a slide, a cafe, and a sauna.