The Old Löwenström Hospital

Stockholm · Sweden · Abandoned site

The Old Löwenström Hospital — Stockholm · Sweden · Abandoned site

Abandoned hospital with a dark history. The Old Löwenström Hospital in Upplands Väsby is more than a forgotten building. Behind its worn façades and broken windows hides a story that shook Sweden — the murder of King Gustav III

An abandoned hospital with a dark history

The old Löwenström Hospital in Upplands Väsby, north of Stockholm, is more than a forgotten building. Behind its worn façades and broken windows lies a history tied to one of the events that shook Sweden most deeply: the assassination of King Gustav III.

The hospital was founded in 1811 by cavalry captain Gustaf Adolf Löwenström. Through a large donation of land by Lake Fysingen, he sought to atone for a dark family legacy. It was his brother, Jacob Johan Anckarström, who shot Gustav III at the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1792. Gustaf Adolf changed his surname and gave money for a hospital in an attempt to restore the family's reputation. A hospital founded on such a background carries a history of guilt, death and penance — something that still colours the atmosphere of the site today.

Ghost stories and mysteries

Over the years countless rumours have spread that the hospital is haunted. The site has stood empty since 2009 and has decayed through years of vandalism and weather, which only deepens the eerie mood. According to local accounts, adventurous residents of Väsby have tried to spend the night in the abandoned building but were frightened off by strange sounds and shadows moving in the dark.

The folklorist and historian of religion Tommy Kuusela explains that it is not unusual for abandoned hospitals and psychiatric institutions to acquire a reputation for being haunted. Buildings where people have experienced death, suffering and anguish tend to generate stories of restless souls who stayed behind — and the old Löwenström Hospital is no exception. Visitors describe footsteps in the corridors, cold draughts, and figures that vanish as quickly as they appear.

From hospital ward to empty corridors

Since Stockholm County Council transferred the hospital to private owners in 2009, the building has been left to decay, despite plans to renovate it into care housing and flats. The obstacle has been its proximity to Arlanda Airport, whose noise levels have halted the project several times. For now the historic buildings remain as empty, abandoned shells — with a history permanently bound to the killing of a king.

FAQ

Where is The Old Löwenström Hospital located?

The Old Löwenström Hospital is in Stockholm, Sweden.

More haunted places in Stockholm

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Svenska Spökkartan (Facebook)