Västerås Historiska Skeppsmuseum (Västerås Historical Ship Museum)

Sweden is home to a plethora of museums, however, most are connected to the state and streamlined to a certain degree. However, there are still several private museums across the region that offer visitors a completely different experience. The Västerås Historical Ship Museum is one such place. 

The museum was a passion project created by the owner of the Frosakersbrygga hotel and is a privately funded venture. Constructed along a small beach below the hotel, the museum consists of several Viking age replica buildings that range from a blacksmith’s quarters, to a functional bathhouse. The museum itself contains about 25 boats, some of which are from the period, while others are replicas.

The most notable piece of the collection is a replica of 1390 warkogg called the Roter Teufel (Red Devil), named after an early 14th-century pirate ship believed to be one of the world’s first. The ship is fully functional and is taken on voyages across the lake. The museum is big on providing an interactive experience and allows visitors to rent a Viking ship to sail across the lake.