De Pere, Wisconsin, and Åmål, Sweden, became sister cities in Nov. 8, 2007. These sister cities - which rest nearly 4,000 miles away from one another - boast many unique, distinct features and traditions, but also share many similarities. 

Åmål, much like De Pere and its historical and vital connection to the Fox River, rests along an important body of water: Lake Vanern. It is Europe's largest lake and is world-renowned for its recreational fishing, attracting anglers from near and far to fish for salmon and trout. Not to mention boat trips, or simply relaxing along its shores. Both De Pere and Åmål host several annual community and music-oriented events; offer a wide-range of parks and natural recreation; foster a peaceful, safe environment for its residents; have dynamic downtown areas and public art displays, and share core values of being genuine, down to earth, forward thinking and rooted in strong values. 

The partnership between De Pere and Åmål was forged through the organization Sisters Cities International, which was created by President Eisenhower in 1958. It is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between communities in the US and the other countries through the establishment of Sister Cities.

In terms of De Pere's partnership with Åmål, here are some of the areas of focus each city has tried to work together to share ideas. Please click on each heading to explore the ways these goals have been pursued over the years. 

  1. Youth Programs
  2. Economic Development/Tourism
  3. Cultural Exchange
  4. Other Activities in the future in which both communities agree to investigate in order to foster cooperation between the two cities.