Scan Magazine
Cultural Experience of the Month
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Sweden
Cultural Experience of the Month, Sweden
Making history relevant, with true life stories At the Swedish History Museum, you will experience dramatic life stories including power struggles, love, celebration and everyday life, from the Stone Age to the present day. By Malin Norman
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Photos: Historiska Museet
Across 4,600 square metres, the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm showcases objects from the Stone Age until modern times – a period spanning more than ten thousand years. “We’re passionate about the history of Sweden and how history affects society,” says Åsa Marnell, museum director. “Knowledge of history provides keys to other worlds. Our aim is to provide new perspectives on history, to unite through time and space.” The Swedish History Museum welcomes around 200,000 visitors per year. A mustsee for many is the Viking World, one of the world’s largest Viking exhibitions. “The myth of the violent, plundering Vikings has spread around the world. But archaeological discoveries and research have changed our view of life in Scandina94
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Issue 184
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November 2025
via a thousand years ago,” explains Marnell. “With almost 1,000 square metres of thrilling stories, interactive stations for all the senses and 2,500 original objects, we delve into who the Vikings really were.” The vast collections at the museum also contain a total of 52 kilos of gold and over 200 kilos of silver – much of it on display in the Gold Room. “Sweden has one of Europe’s richest collections of prehistoric gold and silver. Nearly 3,000 gold objects are kept here, including gold collars from the migration period, silver pendants from the Viking period, reliquaries decorated with gemstones from the Middle Ages, and other amazing objects.” Last year, the Swedish History Museum opened Medieval Fashion in collaboration
with the Medieval Museum. “Available to view until 1 November 2026, this not-tobe-missed exhibition showcases newly sewn women’s garments, recreated from the 1100s to the early 1500s, including both simpler garments and more elaborate ones,” says the museum director. There is plenty more going on, with a total of 12 exhibitions and events such as live music, after work events, and a language exchange café. If you are short on time, a handy highlights audio guide takes you through five of the Swedish History Museum’s must-see exhibitions in just one hour. Marnell adds; “With over ten million objects in our collections, we’ve handpicked 16 of our absolute favourites. Visitors at the museum can also check out our excellent souvenir shop and our fantastic restaurant, with a range of culinary experiences.” www.historiska.se Facebook: Historiska museet Instagram: @historiska