The green crosses – a hidden history in Stockholm's streets and parks

The green crosses belong to the Arla Coldinu Order, a fraternal order founded in Stockholm in 1765. The Order has roots in medieval seafaring traditions and maritime brotherhoods, and combines navigation history with a social and cultural network.
The seat is currently located at Piperska muren on Kungsholmen, and nearby is a staircase that bears the Order's name – a discreet but clear sign of their long presence in the city.

Many famous Stockholmers have been members, and even our current king is a member.

The crosses originally functioned as navigation markers – practical landmarks that helped seafarers navigate correctly, especially when entering and passing through the archipelago.
They also had a symbolic role: to show that the place was "marked" by the order, a kind of greeting from the brotherhood.

In other parts of the country and in the archipelago, the crosses may be white, but in Stockholm they are often painted green. The color is partly practical – it is clearly visible against light stone and asphalt – and partly symbolic, as green is associated with hope, the power of nature and the seafarer's safety.

On my walks, I usually have the group stop when we find a cross. I explain that it is not a religious cross, but a greeting from an old order that still lives and works in Stockholm. And that, just by noticing it, we are suddenly aware of a layer of the city's history that many pass by without seeing.

💡 Tips: Next time you walk on Långholmen, at Svindersvik or through Kungsholmen – keep your eyes open. The green crosses are small, but they carry stories of seafarers, brotherhoods and secrets that still have their place in today's Stockholm.