400 volunteers bring the sagas to life every summer.
Frederikssund Initiative Council was formed in 1951 to market Frederikssund (in Denmark). The people behind the Initiative Council planned a town party in 1952 and suggested that all men in the town grow their beards. No fewer than 669 followed the call, which resonated across the country. At the same time, they got the idea to make a Viking tableau on the Square.
Actor Per Buckhøj was engaged as director and screenwriter. His script was based on the legend of King Skjold.
In the summer of 1952, the Vikings came on stage, in connection with a gigantic town festival in Frederikssund, and since then the Vikings have populated the beautiful open-air scene on Kalvøen in Roskilde Fjord every summer in June-July.
Approx. 400 Frederikssund people of all ages help to create the beautiful and dramatic Viking theatre that have made Frederikssund known as Denmark’s Viking City both at home and abroad.
On Kalvøen there is now a Viking ‘settlement’ and a runestone that is used by many – across religions – to light candles in front for those who are no more.
Even in the world-famous cartoon Asterix & the Vikings, the Vikings say no thanks to participating in the obligatory feast, as they “have an appointment in Frederikssund.”
In 1958, the Frederikssund Vikings went on a train to Paris. Denmark’s Tourist Board wanted to market Denmark and believed that ‘real’ living Vikings were the right ones.
Since then, there have been many expeditions, in fact so many that the Frederikssund Vikings have traveled further than their ancestors.
Selected Viking expeditions
Paris, France (1958) – Viking show at tourist promotion
Rouen, France (1961) – Viking game (the sword Junk) in French
Bornholm, Denmark (1980) – Viking Games of the year
Ørebro, Sweden (1981) – Viking game of the year in Danish
Hobro, Denmark (1981) – Viking Games of the Year
Coutance, France (1983) – Viking game (the sword Junk) in French
Duisburg, Germany (1983) – Viking Game of the Year in German
Reykjavik, Iceland (1985) – Viking game of the year in Danish
Nechochea, Argentina (1986) – Viking Game of the Year in Spanish – with local extras
Nechochea, Argentina (1988) – Viking Game of the Year in Spanish – with local extras
Dublin, Ireland (1988) – Viking show at tourist promotion
Sibbo, Finland (1989) – Viking game of the year in Danish – with local extras
Sofia, Bulgaria (1990) – Viking show in hotel
Noboribetsu on the island of Hokkaido in Japan (1990) – Viking show in nature park
Noboribetsu on the island of Hokkaido in Japan (1991) – Viking show in nature park
Damascus in Syria (1992) – Viking show in hotel
Libramont, Belgium (1992) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Noboribetsu on the island of Hokkaido in Japan (1992) – Viking show in nature park
Bad Segeberg, Germany (1992) – Viking show on the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America
Dunoon, Scotland (1993) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Catoira in Spain (1993 and 1994) – Viking Game of the Year in Spanish – with local extras
Bydgozcz, Poland (1995) – Viking show at Danish Cultural Promotion
Melieha holiday Bay, Malta (1995) – Viking show in holiday paradise
Athlone, Ireland (1996) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Keskemet, Hungary (1996) – Viking show at cultural festival
Gdansk, Poland (1996) – Viking show at Danish Cultural Promotion
Lausanne, Switzerland (1997) – Viking show at beer festival
San Vieto, Italy (1997) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Hong Kong (1998) – Viking show at the opening of a shopping center
Washington D.C., USA (2000) – Viking show at tourist fair
Sibbo, Finland (2000) – Viking game of the year in Danish – with local extras
Elk Horn, Iowa, USA (2001) – Viking show at ‘Danish Days’
Loutraki, Greece (2002) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Shifflange, Luxembourg (2003) – Viking show at sports and culture festival
Annagassan, Ireland (2007, 2008, 2009) – Viking Market with Viking Show
Catoira, Spain (2010) – Viking Game of the Year in Spanish – with local extras
Annagassan, Ireland (2011) – Viking market with Viking show
Annagassan, Ireland (2012) – Viking market with Viking show
London (2012) – Olympics – Viking show etc
York, England (2013) – Viking Festival Jorvik – Viking Show etc.
Bremen, Germany (2014) – Viking show at holiday fair
Read more at: https://www.vikingespil.dk/
My parents happened to be in Frederikssund in 1952 and saw the Viking game there. Since then they have been there every year.
This means that I have been to Viking games every single year in my entire life – now over 50 times – and my daughter has been there every year of her life.
My parents are no longer alive, so we light a candle for them in front of the rune stone.
