International Vikings Festival

It is time for the 26th Viking Festival! Visit a Viking campsite and roam around the medieval fair.

This year there will be plenty of stalls selling all kinds of goods. From jewellery to clothes, soap to mead, weaponry to toys. You can also admire woodburning, silver braiding, shoes, neeldebinding, glasswork, leatherwork, beads and fabrics. The Vikings are always on the move and love to share their stories with you. On Saturday and Sunday there will be demonstrations about different weapons and clothing used by Vikings. Vikings were diligent farmers, excellent craftsmen, smart tradesmen, brave fighters, and above all fearless explorers. You can learn all about it during the Viking Festival.

Vikings in Dorestad
Dorestad was an imperium, a city of trade with international connections. Its prime time was under Frankish rule, mid-8^th century, especially during the reign of Charles the Great. Tradesmen came from all over Europe. Vikings were happy to offer their goods in Dorestad and stock up on products from the countryside or the far south.

In the year 834 Vikings came to Dorestad with different plans. They raided the inhabitants of Dorestad. The position of the city was already weakening at that time. The river had changed its course, further away from the old shore, and the city became less sailable. Besides that, the government was not structured and the power of those in charged weakened. Possibly a new trade centre was on the rise. All this combined with the raids of the Vikings was probably the demise of the city.

In Archeon you can find an impression of Dorestad. There is a small group of three buildings, like the one that stood in Dorestad around 800 AD.