The many faces of Redbad
Fries Museum, Leeuwarden (NL), 2026
Who was Redbad? At the Fries Museum, a lyrical epic reveals the many faces of the king and the world he lived in.
The man behind the myth
For centuries, the mysterious Redbad has captured the imagination through myths and stories. Archaeological masterpieces and new scientific research are bringing us closer to the man behind the legend, although much remains unknown. How do you tell a story that does justice to what we do know, while making Redbad relevant to a contemporary audience.
Perspectives on Redbad
In ‘Redbad: The Legendary King’ at the Fries Museum, visitors are transported to Redbad’s world: the water-rich landscape of sixth- and seventh-century Frisia. Drawing on historical sources, new insights and stories passed down through generations, we created a narrative shaped by shifting perspectives. Together with OPERA Amsterdam and Shosho, we translated these different perspectives on King Redbad into a spatial design.
In a different light
The exhibition unfolds like an epic, with each space presenting Redbas in a different light. From ‘The Mysterious King’ to ‘The Immortal King’, each version of Redbad has its own distinct atmosphere. Rather than encountering a single, definitive historical hero, visitors meet a king who has been imagined and reimagined throughout the centuries. The final word on Redbad has undoubtedly yet to be written.
Redbad’s Raven
Young visitors, too, discover Redbad from different perspectives. Two Ravens guide children and their families through the exhibition about redbad. Studio Louter and the design team developed a multifaced familytrail in which birds continually present young visitors with intriguing dilemmas. Through play, discussion and hands-on activities, children discover King Redbad in their own way.
Photos by Aron Weidenaar
“The exhibition therefor primarily aims to show who Redbad may really have been: not merely a legendary figure from stories, but a ruler who played an important role in a powerful Frisian kingdom along the North Sea coast.”
Ronnie Porte, Culture Reporter, Omrop Fryslân — September 2026
Credits
Client
Fries MuseumContent Design
Studio LouterSpatial Design
OPERA AmsterdamFilm Production
ShoshoLighting Design
50LUXHardware
PTH GroepPartners
Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum, Ostfriesische Landschaft, Learning Hub Friesland, Firda, Niedersächsisches Institut für historische Küstenforschung, Stichting Mythemakers, Fryske Akademy and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.