The Privateers story of Daftö
The year is 1710. Karl XII is king, and Sweden is a great power. After a crucial defeat at Poltava, the king has been forced into exile in Turkey. War is raging on many fronts, and it’s becoming increasingly costly and difficult to bring goods into the country. A solution is needed. The idea of privateering under the Crown’s flag begins to take shape. Sweden needs privateers to weaken the enemy and strengthen the nation’s economy. Said and done, the first privateer ships soon set sail from Gothenburg’s harbor, aiming to seize the enemy’s cargo.
Eight years later – 1718
Aboard a privateer ship, Captain Svartkrut scans the horizon. For eight long years, the crew has been seizing, plundering, and robbing enemy cargo with great success. But this voyage is different. The destination is Strömstad, and the content of the cargo is a secret. As they approach Strömstad, a warning echoes: the town is in flames.
The words echo:
- Burn the ships, the king has fallen and the enemy is coming!
Burn the ship? Never. I’d rather fall to the enemy’s guns, thinks Captain Svartkrut. Now, they are truly deserters. They must hide, quickly finding a sheltered bay where no other ship would dare to follow. The captain recalls a small bay nestled within the Koster Islands. He gathers the crew.
- Listen up, we'll seek shelter. Daftö will be our sanctuary. If anyone objects, you can leave the ship here and now.
The privateer ship sneaks through sound and narrow passages. The mast disappears behind the cliffs just as the Danish-flagged navy appears above Strömstad. The days of privateering at sea are over. Now, the adventures continue at Daftö.
(We have, of course, taken the liberty of modifying the story slightly.)
The latest shipwreck discovery in Daftö Bay confirms the story
It has long been known that privateering under the Crown’s flag, intended to strengthen the kingdom, took place just off the coast of Strömstad. As recently as the autumn of 2019, a team of marine archaeologists made an exciting discovery right outside our guest harbor. A sensational find that confirms privateers were likely present at our exact coordinates.
The discovery was a shipwreck that had once been one of King Karl XII’s warships in the Swedish navy during the 18th century. After several dives, archaeologists found an unfired lead musket ball, the sternpost, and the rudder, well-preserved in the seabed outside our harbor. The prevailing theory among the marine archaeologists is that the ship was engaged in battle but was then sunk by its own crew to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
- The ship that lies here at the bottom of the sea was likely used to defend Strömstad. Now it’s up to us to tell the story of Bohuslän’s privateers and this ship’s past
says Lena Kempe, CEO at Daftö.
Ships and pirates are undeniably part of our history and identity. Now we await with excitement what the next find on the bottom of the sea might be – perhaps a hidden pirate treasure.
Pirates on Daftö – Tordenskjold's victory brought the pirates to Daftö.
It is not only in skiing that we Swedes sometimes get defeated by our Norwegian friends. We suffered a major blow when Peter Tordenskjold defeated Karl XII's Swedish fleet in the battle of Dynekilen, just north of Strömstad. But some of the Swedish privateers involved managed to escape. They are the ones who appear up here at Daftö from time to time.
The adventure at sea had to be replaced with adventures at Daftö – and thank goodness for that! Here, the days are filled with treasure hunts, thrilling rides in attractions, tours with the Daftö train, and much more fun. Sometimes, though, the longing for the sea becomes too strong. Before the pirates det sail, they invite you to join them – for example, you can join them on a trip to Treasure Island.
Read more about the boat trip to Treasure Island (Skattkammarön), which can be experienced during the summer.
What happened to Tordenskjold? He died from a sword thrust in a duel in 1722 with the Swedish warrior Jacob Axel Staël von Holstein. The reason for the duel is said to be that Tordenskjold accused Staël von Holstein of swindling money from people with an exhibition of his stuffed seven-headed snake.