A shifting picture

The word ‘Vikings’ immediately evokes an image of fierce blond Scandinavian warriors who sailed along the coasts of Europe, carrying out raids. In the exhibition ‘We Vikings’, this picture gradually shifts until the viewer realises that in fact Vikings and Frisians had a lot in common.

Vikings, it turns out, weren’t a people: being a Viking was a lifestyle. And it was one Frisians, women and children took part in. ‘Viking’ is actually a verb. It roughly means going on a raid with the goal of financial gain.

Would you go Viking?

Large projections bring the Viking era in Frisia to life. Archaeological finds guide visitors on a trip through the Viking world. They meet Vikings in various roles: an aggressive plunderer but also a trade partner, a member of a shared culture and an equal on board a Viking ship. Visitors are transported from recognition to horror and confronted with the question: Would you go Viking?

Viking ship

Students at the vocational college in Sneek built a replica Viking ship for the exhibition.