What is Viking age reenactment?

To put it simply Viking age reenactment is reliving history.

When you are in a Viking Age Reenactment, you get a peek into the experience of what it was like living in the past. Some might call it a form of LARPing, but not everyone likes this term being used for reenactment. LARPing might mean it is fantasy based, while reenactment is recreating events that may have actually happened. So, the former term gets used: ''the act of recreating a past event.'' Large encampments are pulled up by family-like groups from all over the world to show the public what they made during Viking or other historic events.

A pair of pants I was working on.

A lot of archaeologists and experimental archaeologists work closely together with museums to gain more information about how people lived in the past. Some studies go really deep. For example: To get an idea of what meals were made and eaten, scientists might look into the stomach contents of a grave or accident site. From here, they can determine what type of grain they used and how they could have prepared it. Other things are figured out how things would have been made, like a tunic or pair of pants where only a small piece is found. Many reenactors, of any time period, mimic these studies and use grave finds as an anchor point of what they are making. On these sites you get the most accurate snapshot of a certain time and place.

Large encampments are pulled up by family-like groups from all over the world to show the public what they made during so called Viking or other historic events.

A shield wall at Archeon museumpark during the Viking days of 2024

While in these groups, you might find yourself recreating garments, garments of which only fragments are found, making food above a fireplace with ingredients from that time, creating fabrics, practicing swordsmanship, recreating battles, and playing Hnefatafl.

Sandra van Gogh with her needle bound wares, at a Bloodaxes encampment.

There are also many crafting branches in reenactment, ranging from cooking to silver smithing. There are needle binders, clothing makers, weavers making trims and fabrics. Leatherworkers making belts, shoes, bags and pouches. Basket weavers, well, weaving baskets to hold said items in. Woodsmen and carvers creating chests, shields, axe handles, cups, spoons and god statues. And I'm probably forgetting some, but it is so vast! All handmade projects to get a real feel of what it was all like. No machine woven socks, but hand bound ones made with handspon wool. Made while chatting at a campfire the night before. Many people sell their crafts at markets during events too. So visitors can bring a new piece of history home.

Photo of an encampment at Archeon museumpark.

Reenactment can also be just about being in the moment, getting your linen and woolen clothing, and sitting around the fire with each other. You can enjoy telling stories about events past or ancient legends, and bringing a smile to each other's faces and to those passing by.

Long story short: Viking Age reenactment is a sight to see and a delight to be part of!