If Finns suddenly found themselves starting a new life in the United States, Washington state might feel like home. We share a particular mindset: We are tech-savvy builders and practical problem-solvers. Perhaps it is no coincidence that two places known for unpredictable weather have learned to look beyond today’s forecast and focus on the future.

We also share a love of the sauna. More than a century ago, Finnish immigrants helped shape Washington communities. In Kirkland’s Finn Hill, a 1915 account reportedly recorded some 55 Finnish families and 29 saunas. Today, Finland’s 5.6 million people share an estimated 3 million saunas. By that measure, Finn Hill was already keeping pace with Finland a century ago.

Our ties now extend far beyond the sauna. In 2023, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö addressed a joint session of the Washington Legislature as the first-ever foreign head of state.…