Past and present meet on the Museum Island
The Museum Island contains the harbour, the boatyard and "Tunet" - the meeting place of the Vikings - which forms the basis for the summer activities. Visit the craftsmen in their open workshops and participate actively yourself. Try your hand at the rope walk, carve your name in runes, hit the nail on the head or make your own basket of willow.
The Museum Harbour holds the the large collection of traditional Nordic wooden boats and the reconstructed Viking ships, which provide an image of how the original ships looked 1,000 years ago.
The Boatyard evhibits the craftsmanship and boat-building culture of the Viking Age. There is an opportunity here to step into an active boatyard and follow the boat-builders at close quarters.
The boatyard
The boatyard is located on the Museum Island and work is carried out so that the public can follow the process at close quarters.
The boatyard builds clinker-built boats and its purpose is to preserve the maritime crafts associated with these boats.
The boatyard specialises in full-scale reconstructions of prehistoric boats using the methods of the time. However, we also build new boats based on old traditions and restore and repair old boats. We accept building commissions from private clients and from other museums.
Right now at the Viking Ship Museums Boatyard
Cleaving oak for Skuldelev 5: Tuesday 11/7 from 10:00
The boatbuilders are cleaving oak for Skuldelev 5: Tuesday 11/7 from 10:00
Come and join us for the launch of a new Viking ship
Come and join us for a day of celebration at the Viking Ship Museum boatyard on Saturday May 7th.
Sea Stallion begins to show its age
15 years doesn’t sound like much of an age but for a Viking ship, which has sailed thousands of sea miles, it’s…
Cleaving day at the boatyard
The massive 12 meter long oak log has been cleaved into to halves, but the work doesn't stop there.The boatbuilders…
200 year-old-oak to be cleaved at the Viking Ship Museum.
The massive 8 meter long oak log, with a weight of around 8 tons, will be cleaved with mallets, wedges and raw…
Delivery of massive oak logs to the Viking Ship Museum’s boatyard
Two 200-year-old oak logs – one of which weighs over 6 tons – will arrive at the Viking Ship Museum’s boatyard on…
A Viking ship built from 200 year old fleet oak
The construction of a Viking ship requires the best materials - not least the first class oak timber.