Petri Honkala, a man of many roles in the village: “Mathildedal is life”
Petri Honkala has always had a tendency to come up with ideas.
The name Petri Honkala comes up in many contexts in Mathildedal. You might come across him as Viktor Bremer, the founder of the ironworks village, on a historical theatre tour, or as King Herod in a traditional Christmas play.
Most often he can be seen at the village’s music events.
Honkala, who has lived in Mathildedal since 2013, ended up in the village following his wife. Having lived in Jyväskylä, he wanted to be closer to Helsinki. His wife Sini had a dream of starting an alpaca business.
“Sini asked how close to Helsinki we should be. I said 150 kilometres would be enough.”
She drew a 150-kilometre circle around Helsinki with a compass. Mathildedal fell within that circle, and she already had friends there.
Settling in was made easier by the presence of like-minded musicians in the village. Before long, Honkala was playing in a local band.
Within a couple of years, Mathildedal was already hosting its first rock festival. This year marks the 13th Matilda Rock. In addition to that, Honkala organises single live music events.
Honkala was active in the local village association for five years. The outdoor fitness stairs built by the association originated from his idea.
He has also set up a local men’s group, Matilda Apro, and been involved in developing the ghost museum at Mathildedal Ironworks, as well as the Halloween event.
In Mathildedal the ground is fertile even for the wildest ideas.
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Honkala believes it stems from the village’s history. The founder of Mathildedal Ironworks, ironworks owner Viktor Bremer, was innovative and entrepreneurial. His father, Robert Bremer, was an astronomer and scientist.
“The spirit of the ironworks era still lives on in the village. People have always come here from elsewhere, too. Today, the village is full of enterprising entrepreneurs. New ideas – and new people – are welcomed without the expectation that things should be done as they have always been done.”
According to Honkala this can also be seen in what the village has become.
“There is nowhere else like this – a lively, active village right next to a national park, with a ski slope, golf courses, the sea and a harbour, tennis courts and other opportunities for sport.”
For Honkala Mathildedal simply means life.
“This place, the people, friends, shared interests and nature. To live in this village is to live a good life.”
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Matilda rock: 5.9.2026, etkot 4.9.2026
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