grand opening 'redbad: the legendary king'

saturday 5 september

Come along to the festive opening of REDBAD: the legendary king! On Saturday 5 September, we’ll be celebrating the exhibition’s opening day with free activities for all ages! Let yourself be whisked away on a speed tour of the exhibition’s highlights, discover crafts from the time of King Redbad with demonstrations by the re-enactment group Monetarii Dorestatii, and take home your very own handmade medieval piece of jewellery.

Read more below and book your ticket now.

Date: Saturday 5 September
Time: 11.00 – 17.00
Price: Museum admission | free for under-17s | special student discount, click here

Book a time slot via friesmuseum.nl/tickets (select Saturday 5 September)

In REDBAD: The Legendary King, we travel back in time more than 1,300 years. Through spectacular archaeological finds, world-class artefacts and new scientific research, the world of the seventh and eighth centuries is brought back to life. Marvel at the world-famous Odin of Lejre from Denmark, discover richly decorated swords and jewellery, and come face to face with the extraordinary Man of Bernuthsfeld.
An epic tale of power, faith, trade and war along the North Sea coast. About a king who became a legend.

The activities are free on presentation of a valid admission ticket!

Speed Tours: REDBAD
Join a speed tour and discover the highlights of the brand-new exhibition REDBAD: the legendary king. A museum guide will take you through the exhibition’s highlights. The guide will tailor the tour to the group’s preferences.
Every half hour from 11.15 am to 3.15 pm

Re-enactments/demonstrations
Step back in time to early medieval Frisia with the demonstrations by Monetarii Dorestatii. The group demonstrates how the former inhabitants of our province lived and practised various crafts around 825 AD. How did they make coins? How did they work with leather and bone? And how did they weave beautiful ribbons using a card loom? In lively demonstrations, the re-enactors show how these ancient crafts were carried out.
Continuous from 11.00 to 16.00 

Workshop: make your own decorative brooch
Did you know that in the days of King Redbad, people used to fasten their clothes with luxurious jewellery? Such a brooch is called a fibula. Some brooches were very simple, but others were richly decorated showpieces studded with dazzling gemstones. Take, for example, the famous Wijnaldum fibula! Anyone wearing such a beautiful brooch was showing everyone that they were important and wealthy.

In this creative workshop, you’ll get to make your very own cloak pin! First, take inspiration from the jewellery in the exhibition, then create your own unique decorative pin using gold wire and glass beads. Fun for all ages!
Running continuously from 11.00 to 16.00

This exhibition forms part of the major REDBAD project. The REDBAD project is being carried out within the framework of the Germany–Netherlands Interreg VI programme and is co-funded by the European Union, the province of Fryslân, the province of Groningen and the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony.

The following organisations are involved in the REDBAD project: the Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum Emden, Ostfriesische Landschaft, Learning Hub Friesland, the Firda educational institution, the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research, the Mythemakers Foundation, the Fries Museum, the Fryske Akademy and the University of Groningen.

The Fries Museum is supported by Windpark Fryslân, the province of Fryslân, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the VriendenLoterij, the Ir. Abe Bonnema Foundation and the Friends of the Fries Museum.

The exhibition ‘REDBAD: The Legendary King’ is made possible by the municipality of Leeuwarden, the Mondriaan Fund, the province of Friesland, the Wassenbergh-Clarijs-Fontein Foundation, the Leeuwarden Entrepreneurs’ Fund, the Old Burger Orphanage Foundation and the Parkeergarages Cultural Fund Foundation.