Hiidlased

Hiidlased are the inhabitants of Hiiumaa, the second-largest island in Estonia, located in the Baltic Sea and part of Hiiu County. The term refers to the people who live on the island and to a regional cultural and linguistic identity shaped by Hiiumaa’s geography, history, and traditions. The island has a few thousand residents, with Kärdla as its administrative center.

Language and dialect form a central part of Hiidlased identity. The Hiiumaa dialect (Hiiumaa murre) belongs to the Western Estonian group of dialects and features phonetic and lexical distinctives from standard Estonian. While formal settings typically use high Estonian, the dialect remains widely spoken in daily life, folk songs, and local storytelling.

History and culture. Hiiumaa’s relative isolation contributed to a strong maritime economy focused on fishing, seafaring, and shipbuilding. Lighthouses are enduring symbols of the island’s heritage, notably the Kõpu Lighthouse, one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the world. The island preserves traditional rural life in historic villages such as Koguva, and it maintains a range of crafts, folk music, and regional customs that reflect its seafaring past and agrarian roots.

Contemporary life. Hiidlased participate in the broader Estonian cultural landscape while sustaining a distinct local identity tied to the land, sea, and dialect. Festivals, museums, and regional initiatives help preserve Hiiumaa’s heritage and promote its unique regional character within Estonia.