The Vasa [Sweden's Pride Story], Stockholm, Sweden

When preparing a trip to Stockholm, it is said that visiting the Vasa museum (Vasamuseet) is a must do. I was intrigued by the story of that ship that is one of the worst built ever, but attracts more than a million visitors per year.

The Vasa was ordered in 1625 by Gustavus Adolfus II to impress his catholic enemies and expend his aura as the protestant lion of the North. A very arrogant king, he wanted the Vasa to be the biggest and most impressive ship of the time.

In the beginning of the 17th century, Sweden lacks qualified workers. The king hires a Dutch shipwright, Henrik Hybertsson to build two small and two big warships, including the 69-m long Vasa. The navy yard is the biggest Swedish company with 400 workers employed by Master Henrik and his Swedish wife Margareta, who collaborate with top-notch naval carpenters from the Netherlands. But the Vasa is a special contract.

After living in Sweden for almost 30 years, Master Henrik has built a good number of vessels. With the Vasa, he starts working on the biggest ship he has ever conceived. But old and weak, he dies in 1627 at 65, before she is completed. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).