Findspots of three swords - Den Oever

Wieringen was once an island on the edge of the Netherlands. A place where icy battles were fought and Vikings roamed the land.

In the Michaëlskerk in Oosterland lies the sword of Willem Bloys van Treslong. A Sea Beggar, freedom fighter and survivor.

It is 1572. His ships are stuck in the ice off the coast of Wieringen. In an attempt to survive, he and his men raid the surrounding farms, but the people of Wieringen resist with all their might. Then Bloys van Treslong proposes a truce: if the islanders help break the ice, Bloys will leave them alone. He keeps his word and leaves his sword behind as a sign of that promise.

In Hippolytushoef, a weapon was also found from the early Middle Ages. The time of Frisians and Franks, around the year 700. Was it buried as an offering or a grave gift, or for another reason? A question that remains unanswered. It is suspected that the sword was made by blacksmiths from southwest Germany.

And then there is Westerklief, where beneath the grass two impressive Viking treasures were hidden. Silverware, jewellery, Arabic coins, coins from Dorestad… The treasures trace a path that extended far beyond the North Sea. Wieringen was an important crossroads in this trade network.

Photo: ©Mello