The conference dinner will take place at the internationally renowned Vasa Museum, which houses the world's only surviving 17th-century ship. The lower rig of the Vasa has been rebuilt, complete with masts, stays and shrouds, replicating how it would have looked when set for winter in harbour.
A brief history of the Vasa
During the 1620s Sweden was at war with Poland. In 1625 the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus ordered new warships - among them the Vasa, which was to be the mightiest warship in the world. In 1628 the ship was ready and on her maiden voyage the beaches around Stockholm were filled with spectators. The Vasa set sail and fired a salute. But after only a few minutes of sailing the ship began to heel over. Water started to gush in through the open gunports. And, to everyones horror and disbelief, the mighty warship suddenly sank, killing between 30 and 50 people! After sinking on her maiden voyage, the ship was not salvaged until 1961. Special techniques are now used to preserve the ship, which is displayed in the purpose-built Vasa Museum.