Text
Battle of Vlaardingen 1018 - 2018
Kit Guide
Kees Nieuwenhuijsen
version 1.0, 5 May 2017
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
1/8
Cover:
Count Dirk II and countess Hildegard, grandparents of count Dirk III of West-Frisia (Holland). The
portrait dates from the end of the 10th century.
‘s-Gravenhage, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 76 F I, fol. 214v.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
2/8
Introduction
This Kit Guide provides information for re-enactors participating in the event on 9 and 10 June
2018, to commemorate the Battle of Vlaardingen in the year 1018. In this battle, count Dirk III of
West-Frisia (Holland) defeated the army of the German emperor Heinrich II.
Around the year 1018, Vlaardingen was a small settlement along the river Merwede. The
population consisted of native Frisians, and immigrants from elsewhere in Europe who came to
work in the peat reclamations.
The town was frequented by traders from abroad.
The Battle of Vlaardingen was fought between the locals (both professional warriors and local
farmers) and an army of Lotharingians (all professional warriors).
The re-enactment event will comprise a large living history encampment and a market. On the
Saturday and the Sunday, a scripted battle will be performed.
The participants will depict the inhabitants (rich and poor) of Vlaardingen and the passengers and
immigrants from elsewhere in Frisia, England, Flanders, Normandy, and the Meuse and Rhine
region, in the year 1018. Re-enactors can wear costumes that were common in those areas in the
10th and 11th centuries.
Traders from Scandinavia and the Baltic region may have visited Vlaardingen, but this would have
been rare. On the market and in the encampment, participants with a complete Viking or Eastern
outfit will be accepted.
At the battle field, authenticity rules will be stricter. No warriors from Scandinavia or Eastern
Europe participated in the original battle. Therefore, typical Viking, Rusvik, or Byzantine items will
not be allowed on the battle field. To be specific: fur caps, baggy Rusvik trousers, Eastern helmets,
and lamellar armour will not be allowed during the fight.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
3/8
Overview
A concise checklist of the items that we like to see at the event, the ones that are acceptable and
the items that are not allowed.
Female
item
head
under dress
dress
legs
feet
cloak
belts & bags
(1)
preferred
veil;
headscarf;
headband
natural or bleached linen,
ankle length
coloured wool, ankle
length, with or without
decoration (tablet weave,
embroidery)
bare legs;
naalbound socks
leather shoes, low or
ankle-high
no cloak;
mantle;
rectangular cloak pinned
at chest
no belt
under shirt
legs
not allowed
see footnote (1)
bare feet;
wooden shoes (CHILD)
boots;
wooden shoes (ADULT)
leather or fur cloak
braided or woven girdle
with leather or cloth sack
buckled leather belt
dress above mid-calf
Adult women without head covering are acceptable only if they are part of a complete Viking
portrayal.
Civilian male
item
preferred
head
no headwear
tunic
acceptable
no headwear (YOUNG);
veil over decorated
headband (RICH)
coloured linen with
embroidery (RICH)
linen dress;
hangerock and oval
brooches
natural or bleached linen,
knee length
coloured wool, knee
length, with or without
decoration (tablet weave,
embroidery)
woollen trousers with
straight or tight legs, with
leg bindings;
woollen hosen with
integral feet and braies
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
acceptable
linen, woollen or leather
hood;
Frisian cap;
straw hat (POOR);
fur cap (21)
coloured linen with
embroidery (RICH)
linen tunic;
ankle length (RICH)
not allowed
hood with long tail;
bandana
mi-parti
linen trousers or hosen;
trousers without leg
binding;
decorated hosen with
garters below the knee
(RICH);
Rusvik baggy trousers (2)
4/8
feet
leather turnshoes, low or
ankle-high, with
naalbound socks
cloak
no cloak;
rectangular cloak pinned
at shoulder
buckled leather belt
around the waist with
knife in leather sheath
belts & bags
(2)
bare feet;
medium boots (mid-calf);
shoes with hobnails;
high boots (2);
wooden shoes (CHILD)
Viking-type poach;
linen shoulder bag
wooden shoes (ADULT)
leather or fur cloak;
sheep skin around
shoulders
late-medieval poach
Participants depicting Eastern European traders may wear fur hats, Rusvik trousers, and high
boots, as part of a complete Eastern European outfit.
General
item
hair
preferred
natural colour
tattoos
no tattoos
make-up
jewellery
no make-up
in harmony with rest of
outfit (RICH or POOR)
Encampment
item
preferred
tent
Geteld tent opening on
the front;
separate awning
bed
straw mattress
wooden-frame bed
acceptable
dyed in unnatural colour
and covered
Celtic or Viking designs;
modern tattoo, covered
light make-up
not allowed
dyed in unnatural colour
and uncovered
visible modern tattoos
acceptable
Geteld-tent opening on
the side;
A-frame Viking tent
modern sleeping bag;
airbag or camping bed,
must be covered under
blanket, or in closed tent
not allowed
late-medieval pavilion
furniture
modern
items
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
modern items in closed
tents
heavy make-up
visible modern piercings
pressed straw bales
African so-called Viking
chairs
during public hours: visible
modern items outside or
in open tents
5/8
Battle field
Female warriors must dress as male.
All warriors must wear gloves. All warriors are advised to also wear other protective armour.
Helmets are not compulsory, but are strongly advised.
item
head
protection
preferred
ADVISED: conical helmet
with or without nose
guard
body armour riveted chain mail, length
below groin / above knee,
sleeves just above elbow
or longer;
gambeson under chain
mail
modern
COMPULSORY: firm
protection
leather gloves in neutral
colours;
ADVISED: knee-caps and
elbow-caps worn under
clothing;
ladies: sports bra
legs
same as civilian male
acceptable
no headwear;
spectacle helmet;
helmet with aventail
(chain mail)
no body armour ;
butted chain mail;
chainmail without
gambeson or vice versa;
leather elbow protection
feet
same as civilian male
further
clothing
shield
same as civilian male
same as civilian male,
except Rusvik trousers
same as civilian male,
except high boots
same as civilian male
round, kite or oval shield
with boss, single colour or
simple design
10th-11th century sword
with scabbard or baldric;
axe;
Dane axe;
scramaseax;
spear
small round shield
(buckler);
dragon design
round pommel sword;
single edge sword
(langseax);
mace;
longbow, crossbow and
javelin (5)
weapons
(3)
(4)
(5)
not allowed
bandana;
fur cap;
pointed Eastern helmet
with horse tail;
spectacles (3)
short chain mail (above
groin);
short sleeved chainmail
(well above elbow);
lamellar armour (leather
or steel)
visible knee-caps or
elbow-caps;
modern sport gloves in
bright colours
Rusvik baggy trousers
triangular shield;
heraldic design
high boots (4);
wooden shoes
same as civilian male
francesca;
late-medieval sword;
any sharp weapon
In the encampment and on the market, spectacles are acceptable (but not encouraged). On
the battle field, spectacles are not allowed.
High boots under straight trousers are acceptable on the battle field.
Longbows, crossbows and javelins are only to be used by designated units of warriors and
according to the script.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
6/8
Further details and references
The overview does not provide details such as the shapes of neck holes or the possible colours of a
tunic. For such details, you can consult the kit guides and articles that were the basis of the
overview:
ARCHER, Gavin, Regia Anglorum Authenticity Guide 2015
https://regia.org/memb…/docs/2015%20Authenticity%20Guide.pdf
ARCHER, Gavin & Louise, The Viking Age Compendium, 2016
http://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Main_Page
BRODRICK, L., Europa Re-enactment Association Inc., 2014
http://europa.org.au/index.php
- Norse baggy trousers
- Satchels and bags
- Tents.
CARLSON. I. Marc, Footwear of the Middle Ages, 1996-2005
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SHOEHOME.HTM
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SLIST2.HTM
SKODELL, Henry, Schutzausrüstung des 11. Jahrhunderts in Mitteleuropa, 2008
Frauendarstellungen in der Buchmalerei des späten 10. und (frühen) 11. Jahrhundert.
http://www.reenactment.de/reenactment_start/reenactment_startseite/diverses.html
THUNEM, Hilde, Recreating Viking Clothing, 2014-2017
http://urd.priv.no/viking/
UHL DE CANEHAN, Gerald, Kitguide Ottonik, 2010, and several other guides (in German)
http://www.wilhaim.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kitguide-Ottonik-2010-1.pdf
http://www.ffc1066.de/informationen/kitguides/
VIKINGS AUTHENTICITY TEAM, Various Handbooks, 1992-2016
https://docs.vikingsonline.org.uk/files
VLASATÝ, Tomáš, Project Forlog, 2016-2017
http://sagy.vikingove.cz
Mostly in the Czech language, but with a few pages in English:
- Lamellar Armours of the Viking Age
- Scandinavian helmets of the 10th century
- Theories on Norse Padded Armour.
I thank the authors for their hard work and inspiration.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
7/8
Illuminated manuscript
Many illuminated manuscript have been scanned and are freely available on the Internet, often in
high resolution. A few examples:
Bamberger Apokalypse, Reichenau, ca. 1010
http://bsbsbb.bsb.lrz.de/~db/0000/sbb00000063/images/
Bayeux Tapestry, Normandy, 1070-1077
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry
Beatus de Saint-Sever, France, circa 1050
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505441p
Cædmon Manuscript, Anglo-Saxon, circa 1000
http://image.ox.ac.uk/show?collection=bodleian&manuscript=msjunius11
Codex Aureus Epternacensis, Echternach, 1030-1050
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_aureus_Epternacensis
Heinrich II. Perikopenbuch, Reichenau, ca. 1007 - 1012
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0008/bsb00087481/images/
Hexateuch (The Old English Hexateuch), England, 1025-1050
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_claudius_b_iv
Otto III. Evangeliar , Reichenau, ca. 1000
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0009/bsb00096593/images/index.html
Seeon Evangelistar, Seeon, before 1012
http://bsbsbb.bsb.lrz.de/~db/0000/sbb00000056/images/index.html
Not advisable as a source for 11th century kit: Harley Psalter, Canterbury, 1000-1050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Psalter
The Harley Psalter was made in the 11th century, but the illustrations are copies from the Utrecht
Psalter from AD 820-850. So they are a bit old fashioned for our period.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact me at kees.nieuwenhuijsen@tip.nl
You may also find information on the FaceBook page ‘Battle of Vlaardingen 1018 - 2018’.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
8/8
Kit Guide
Kees Nieuwenhuijsen
version 1.0, 5 May 2017
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
1/8
Cover:
Count Dirk II and countess Hildegard, grandparents of count Dirk III of West-Frisia (Holland). The
portrait dates from the end of the 10th century.
‘s-Gravenhage, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 76 F I, fol. 214v.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
2/8
Introduction
This Kit Guide provides information for re-enactors participating in the event on 9 and 10 June
2018, to commemorate the Battle of Vlaardingen in the year 1018. In this battle, count Dirk III of
West-Frisia (Holland) defeated the army of the German emperor Heinrich II.
Around the year 1018, Vlaardingen was a small settlement along the river Merwede. The
population consisted of native Frisians, and immigrants from elsewhere in Europe who came to
work in the peat reclamations.
The town was frequented by traders from abroad.
The Battle of Vlaardingen was fought between the locals (both professional warriors and local
farmers) and an army of Lotharingians (all professional warriors).
The re-enactment event will comprise a large living history encampment and a market. On the
Saturday and the Sunday, a scripted battle will be performed.
The participants will depict the inhabitants (rich and poor) of Vlaardingen and the passengers and
immigrants from elsewhere in Frisia, England, Flanders, Normandy, and the Meuse and Rhine
region, in the year 1018. Re-enactors can wear costumes that were common in those areas in the
10th and 11th centuries.
Traders from Scandinavia and the Baltic region may have visited Vlaardingen, but this would have
been rare. On the market and in the encampment, participants with a complete Viking or Eastern
outfit will be accepted.
At the battle field, authenticity rules will be stricter. No warriors from Scandinavia or Eastern
Europe participated in the original battle. Therefore, typical Viking, Rusvik, or Byzantine items will
not be allowed on the battle field. To be specific: fur caps, baggy Rusvik trousers, Eastern helmets,
and lamellar armour will not be allowed during the fight.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
3/8
Overview
A concise checklist of the items that we like to see at the event, the ones that are acceptable and
the items that are not allowed.
Female
item
head
under dress
dress
legs
feet
cloak
belts & bags
(1)
preferred
veil;
headscarf;
headband
natural or bleached linen,
ankle length
coloured wool, ankle
length, with or without
decoration (tablet weave,
embroidery)
bare legs;
naalbound socks
leather shoes, low or
ankle-high
no cloak;
mantle;
rectangular cloak pinned
at chest
no belt
under shirt
legs
not allowed
see footnote (1)
bare feet;
wooden shoes (CHILD)
boots;
wooden shoes (ADULT)
leather or fur cloak
braided or woven girdle
with leather or cloth sack
buckled leather belt
dress above mid-calf
Adult women without head covering are acceptable only if they are part of a complete Viking
portrayal.
Civilian male
item
preferred
head
no headwear
tunic
acceptable
no headwear (YOUNG);
veil over decorated
headband (RICH)
coloured linen with
embroidery (RICH)
linen dress;
hangerock and oval
brooches
natural or bleached linen,
knee length
coloured wool, knee
length, with or without
decoration (tablet weave,
embroidery)
woollen trousers with
straight or tight legs, with
leg bindings;
woollen hosen with
integral feet and braies
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
acceptable
linen, woollen or leather
hood;
Frisian cap;
straw hat (POOR);
fur cap (21)
coloured linen with
embroidery (RICH)
linen tunic;
ankle length (RICH)
not allowed
hood with long tail;
bandana
mi-parti
linen trousers or hosen;
trousers without leg
binding;
decorated hosen with
garters below the knee
(RICH);
Rusvik baggy trousers (2)
4/8
feet
leather turnshoes, low or
ankle-high, with
naalbound socks
cloak
no cloak;
rectangular cloak pinned
at shoulder
buckled leather belt
around the waist with
knife in leather sheath
belts & bags
(2)
bare feet;
medium boots (mid-calf);
shoes with hobnails;
high boots (2);
wooden shoes (CHILD)
Viking-type poach;
linen shoulder bag
wooden shoes (ADULT)
leather or fur cloak;
sheep skin around
shoulders
late-medieval poach
Participants depicting Eastern European traders may wear fur hats, Rusvik trousers, and high
boots, as part of a complete Eastern European outfit.
General
item
hair
preferred
natural colour
tattoos
no tattoos
make-up
jewellery
no make-up
in harmony with rest of
outfit (RICH or POOR)
Encampment
item
preferred
tent
Geteld tent opening on
the front;
separate awning
bed
straw mattress
wooden-frame bed
acceptable
dyed in unnatural colour
and covered
Celtic or Viking designs;
modern tattoo, covered
light make-up
not allowed
dyed in unnatural colour
and uncovered
visible modern tattoos
acceptable
Geteld-tent opening on
the side;
A-frame Viking tent
modern sleeping bag;
airbag or camping bed,
must be covered under
blanket, or in closed tent
not allowed
late-medieval pavilion
furniture
modern
items
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
modern items in closed
tents
heavy make-up
visible modern piercings
pressed straw bales
African so-called Viking
chairs
during public hours: visible
modern items outside or
in open tents
5/8
Battle field
Female warriors must dress as male.
All warriors must wear gloves. All warriors are advised to also wear other protective armour.
Helmets are not compulsory, but are strongly advised.
item
head
protection
preferred
ADVISED: conical helmet
with or without nose
guard
body armour riveted chain mail, length
below groin / above knee,
sleeves just above elbow
or longer;
gambeson under chain
modern
COMPULSORY: firm
protection
leather gloves in neutral
colours;
ADVISED: knee-caps and
elbow-caps worn under
clothing;
ladies: sports bra
legs
same as civilian male
acceptable
no headwear;
spectacle helmet;
helmet with aventail
(chain mail)
no body armour ;
butted chain mail;
chainmail without
gambeson or vice versa;
leather elbow protection
feet
same as civilian male
further
clothing
shield
same as civilian male
same as civilian male,
except Rusvik trousers
same as civilian male,
except high boots
same as civilian male
round, kite or oval shield
with boss, single colour or
simple design
10th-11th century sword
with scabbard or baldric;
axe;
Dane axe;
scramaseax;
spear
small round shield
(buckler);
dragon design
round pommel sword;
single edge sword
(langseax);
mace;
longbow, crossbow and
javelin (5)
weapons
(3)
(4)
(5)
not allowed
bandana;
fur cap;
pointed Eastern helmet
with horse tail;
spectacles (3)
short chain mail (above
groin);
short sleeved chainmail
(well above elbow);
lamellar armour (leather
or steel)
visible knee-caps or
elbow-caps;
modern sport gloves in
bright colours
Rusvik baggy trousers
triangular shield;
heraldic design
high boots (4);
wooden shoes
same as civilian male
francesca;
late-medieval sword;
any sharp weapon
In the encampment and on the market, spectacles are acceptable (but not encouraged). On
the battle field, spectacles are not allowed.
High boots under straight trousers are acceptable on the battle field.
Longbows, crossbows and javelins are only to be used by designated units of warriors and
according to the script.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
6/8
Further details and references
The overview does not provide details such as the shapes of neck holes or the possible colours of a
tunic. For such details, you can consult the kit guides and articles that were the basis of the
overview:
ARCHER, Gavin, Regia Anglorum Authenticity Guide 2015
https://regia.org/memb…/docs/2015%20Authenticity%20Guide.pdf
ARCHER, Gavin & Louise, The Viking Age Compendium, 2016
http://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Main_Page
BRODRICK, L., Europa Re-enactment Association Inc., 2014
http://europa.org.au/index.php
- Norse baggy trousers
- Satchels and bags
- Tents.
CARLSON. I. Marc, Footwear of the Middle Ages, 1996-2005
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SHOEHOME.HTM
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SLIST2.HTM
SKODELL, Henry, Schutzausrüstung des 11. Jahrhunderts in Mitteleuropa, 2008
Frauendarstellungen in der Buchmalerei des späten 10. und (frühen) 11. Jahrhundert.
http://www.reenactment.de/reenactment_start/reenactment_startseite/diverses.html
THUNEM, Hilde, Recreating Viking Clothing, 2014-2017
http://urd.priv.no/viking/
UHL DE CANEHAN, Gerald, Kitguide Ottonik, 2010, and several other guides (in German)
http://www.wilhaim.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kitguide-Ottonik-2010-1.pdf
http://www.ffc1066.de/informationen/kitguides/
VIKINGS AUTHENTICITY TEAM, Various Handbooks, 1992-2016
https://docs.vikingsonline.org.uk/files
VLASATÝ, Tomáš, Project Forlog, 2016-2017
http://sagy.vikingove.cz
Mostly in the Czech language, but with a few pages in English:
- Lamellar Armours of the Viking Age
- Scandinavian helmets of the 10th century
- Theories on Norse Padded Armour.
I thank the authors for their hard work and inspiration.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
7/8
Illuminated manuscript
Many illuminated manuscript have been scanned and are freely available on the Internet, often in
high resolution. A few examples:
Bamberger Apokalypse, Reichenau, ca. 1010
http://bsbsbb.bsb.lrz.de/~db/0000/sbb00000063/images/
Bayeux Tapestry, Normandy, 1070-1077
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry
Beatus de Saint-Sever, France, circa 1050
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505441p
Cædmon Manuscript, Anglo-Saxon, circa 1000
http://image.ox.ac.uk/show?collection=bodleian&manuscript=msjunius11
Codex Aureus Epternacensis, Echternach, 1030-1050
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_aureus_Epternacensis
Heinrich II. Perikopenbuch, Reichenau, ca. 1007 - 1012
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0008/bsb00087481/images/
Hexateuch (The Old English Hexateuch), England, 1025-1050
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=cotton_ms_claudius_b_iv
Otto III. Evangeliar , Reichenau, ca. 1000
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0009/bsb00096593/images/index.html
Seeon Evangelistar, Seeon, before 1012
http://bsbsbb.bsb.lrz.de/~db/0000/sbb00000056/images/index.html
Not advisable as a source for 11th century kit: Harley Psalter, Canterbury, 1000-1050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Psalter
The Harley Psalter was made in the 11th century, but the illustrations are copies from the Utrecht
Psalter from AD 820-850. So they are a bit old fashioned for our period.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact me at kees.nieuwenhuijsen@tip.nl
You may also find information on the FaceBook page ‘Battle of Vlaardingen 1018 - 2018’.
Kit Guide Vlaardingen 1018 – 2018 (v1.0, 5-5-2017)
8/8