New cabbage head monument dedicated to well loved books

Estonians are a nation of avid readers and rank among the most passionate book lovers in the world. Last week in Tallinn a new cabbage-head bust was placed in the inner courtyard of the Estonian National Library dedicated to well loved books.  The monument pays tribute and makes reference to the common Estonian expression "raamat on loetud kapsaks" that literally means "the book has been read into a cabbage," referring to books that have been read so many times they become worn and tattered.

"Monument to Books Worn to Shreds"

So what books do Estonians love to read so much?

Estonians love reading works by local Estonian authors, focusing heavily on national classics, historical fiction, folklore-inspired tales, and beloved children's literature.

The most popular books read by Estonians are:

1.Truth and Justice I (Tõde ja õigus) by Anton Hansen Tammsaare. Published in 1926, Volume One is  widely considered the Estonian national novel. This masterpiece explores the toil, philosophy, and soul of the Estonian people through rural life.

2. Kalevipoeg by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. Estonia's national epic, charting the heroic and tragic deeds of the mythical giant Kalevipoeg protecting the land.

3. Spring (Kevade) by Oskar Luts. Published in 1912, the novel is a nostalgic, humorous, and deeply cherished portrait of school life in rural Estonia.

4. The Czar's Madman (Keisri hull) by Jaan Kross (1978). A world-renowned historical novel portraying 19th-century psychological resistance under the Russian Empire.

5. Apothecary Melchior Series by Indrek Hargla. Hugely popular contemporary murder mystery novels set in 15th-century mediaeval Tallinn.

6. The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu) by Andrus Kivirähk (2007). A modern folkloric masterpiece and massive bestseller blending magic, survival, and Estonian identity.

7. Three Jolly Fellows (Naksitrallid) by Eno Raud is considered a timeless classic of Estonian children's literature.

Beautiful Estonia: Jägala Waterfall

Jägala Waterfall is the widest natural waterfall in Estonia. Located 25km east of Tallinn, the waterfall is approximately 8 metres high and more than 50 metres wide. During winter Jägala Waterfall is a fascinating sight to see when the water freezes and becomes a glistening ice wall with large icicles. Sometimes a tunnel is formed during the freezing months between the wall of the waterfall and the ice hanging down the edge of the waterfall.

Estonia 5th best in EU for renewal energy

In the second quarter of 2026, 54.1% of the electricity generated in the European Union came from renewable energy sources. The highest shares were in Latvia (97.7%) and  Denmark (94.3%), the lowest in Slovakia (19.8%) and The Czech Republic (20.9%). Estonia came in at fifth place which is another excellent result for Estonia.

It's mushroom season in Estonia!

Mushroom season is in full swing in Estonia. Between the months of July and October Estonians love to head to the forest to pick mushooms. Seenelkäik / foraging mushrooms has often been described as a national sport in Estonia and is a deep-rooted cultural ritual. There are over 7000 species of mushrooms in Estonia with 400 of them considered edible. 

Last year over 100 tons of fresh or chilled mushrooms were exported from Estonia with a total value of 834 451 euros. Most of the mushrooms reached Sweden, Finland and Germany.  The most popular mushrooms were chanterelles (93 867 kg). They're so delicious!

Head Vanavanemate Päev! Happy Grandparents' Day!

Grandparents' Day (Vanavanemate päev) is celebrated on the second Sunday of September in Estonia. As of 1st January 2026, 330,291 people living in Estonia proudly held the title of grandparent. Here are some interesting facts about grandparents in Estonia.

Estonia Ranked the Best Country to Live in 2026

Estonia has been ranked the world’s best country to live in 2026, according to the latest Rumavi Global Relocation Index. Estonia topped the list among 184 countries, with a score of 72.8 out of 100. Singapore came second at 72.6, while Malaysia, Portugal and Taiwan complete the top five. Estonia’s first-place ranking is notable for a country with a population of 1.3 million. Estonia scored exceptionally well across the safety and settling pillars, supported by robust rule of law, a strong startup ecosystem, and low youth unemployment.

The report also ranks the world's worst countries to live which are: Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan. More information about the report can be found here.

Estonia continues to be No. 1 in Europe for education

According to the OECD’s 2025 PISA results, Estonia ranks the best in Europe and is among the top ten best education systems in the world. Only Japan and South Korea surpassed Estonia in 2025 for overall PISA test scores among the 91 OECD countries. For the past 15 years Estonia has outperformed the OECD average in science, maths and reading. This is another fantastic result for Estonia who places great importance on education.  Further reading can be found here.

Ülle Madise - The Next President of Estonia

On Wednesday, 2nd of September 2026, the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) elected Ülle Madise as the next President of Estonia. She ran as an independent candidate and secured 71 votes out of the required 68. Madise will be the second woman to hold the Estonian presidency, following Kersti Kaljulaid who left office in 2021. Madise succeeds Alar Karis, who chose not to seek a second term.

So who is Ülle Madise?

Ülle Madise is a prominent Estonian lawyer and legal scholar who has served as the Chancellor of Justice since 2015. She was born in Tartu in 1974 and studied law at the University of Tartu. Her father, Tõnu Anton, is a former member of the Supreme Court of Estonia and signatory of the ratification of the Estonian restoration of Independence. President-elect Ülle Madise holds core beliefs deeply rooted in constitutional law, institutional trust, individual liberty, and national identity.

Ülle Madise is scheduled to officially take office on 12 October 2026 where she will then become the seventh President of the Republic of Estonia.

Estonia's Education System: Why are Estonians so Smart?

The 1st of September marks the beginning of the new school year in Estonia. This year 14,700 children started first grade in Estonia, receiving their Aabits book and wearing their 'kooli tekkel' (school cap) for the first time with pride. Approximately 160,000 Estonian pupils will be attending general education this year, 26,000 students will commence vocational education and more than 47,000 students are enrolled at the country's universities. Estonia has one of the best education systems in the world and ranks number one in Europe for reading, mathematics, and science.