You have regularly attended a festival and seen people there living completely as in the past. Or perhaps you have friends who are already involved in re-enactment. Or maybe you are inspired by battles such as Waterloo, Hastings, or Agincourt, which are realistically reenacted by people who live for a weekend or longer as people did in other times. Re-enactment is a very versatile hobby that involves a lot.

There are different terms that are very similar but just slightly different. Discovering where your passion lies is often a journey through all three options. In this blog, we briefly approach them, but we mainly focus on Re-enactment. 

The most hardcore historical approach is experimental archaeology. Here, a setup is completely historically recreated to discover how people lived or performed an action in a period. For example, sailing a Viking ship from Norway to Dublin or a living experiment where you live completely as in the bronze Age for six weeks. In this setup, the test object (sometimes that is yourself) is fully historical, but the environment can be modern. 

Living History focuses primarily on how people lived in daily life throughout history. For example, a Living History Group might depict a Gallic settlement or a group of Dutch resistance fighters from World War II. The emphasis is on historical accuracy. Objects and clothing must m be proven to have existed through historical sources. This is often very challenging and is where the main challenge of living history lies. Living history is often performed at events attended by visitors. It has an educational character about a specific period. At large living history festivals, you often see different periods where you can take a look.

In re-enactment, just like in living history, historical accuracy is central. However, the main difference is that in Re-enactment, warfare and battles are often important. Many re-enactment groups have historical camps where meals are prepared or crafts are practiced. However, there are also re-enactors who mainly participate for the battles and do not stay in a historical camp outside of them, but in a plastic tent or camper outside the historical area. 

In reenactment, the degree of historical accuracy varies per group. The challenge with historical accuracy is that a lot of research must be done to come up with a setup or even to wear a few shoes. The extent to which the group wants to be historically accurate should align with the extent to which you pursue it yourself. This can be a challenge/discovery for yourself or a censorship that evaluates everything you buy. Many groups use the rule of thumb that if you aim for 100% historical accuracy, you will ultimately be 80% historically accurate. Note, this usually applies during the event's opening hours. Most groups sleep and eat modern or partially modern outside opening hours. 

The easiest way to start with reenactment is to join a reenactment group. They almost always have clothing and equipment that you can borrow the first few times you participate. As mentioned earlier, it is important to see how the group approaches historical accuracy and whether this aligns with you. Many groups are foundations, and some charge a membership fee. Other groups earn their money by participating in paid events. The downside of paid events is that you cannot be sure whether you will always be at an enjoyable event or just at a modern fair. 

The major difference between reenactment and LARP is that the acting component in LARP goes much further than in reenactment. In many reenactment groups, the character you portray has a basic foundation, but usually no storyline, etc. At events, reenactment primarily has an educational character. You inform the audience about how people lived in, for example, the Middle Ages. You often do this by depicting crafts or giving workshops. LARP events are much more about you and your group with the story that runs as a common thread through the weekend. There are almost never visitors. 

For many reenactment groups, the camp is central. This is the central point for the group. Meals are also taken here, usually in a historical setup, and slept, usually in a modern setup. Many camps consist of historical tents and a central meeting place in the middle. Often camps also have weapon racks where all the weapons are displayed. In many reenactment groups, visitors are also allowed to enter the camp to look around. Modern items are hidden in historical tents that are closed. Just as in history, fire plays an important role for the reenactment group. It provides robust heating at cold reenactment events. It is widely used for performing crafts. Cooking is also done on the fire, often with multiple kettles, pans, and ovens. 

Re-enactment battles are dangerous. During battles, strict agreements are in place, usually discussed in advance at a captains meeting. The officers of a group participate and pass the information to the rest of their re-enactment group. Usually, it is primarily decided which party will win, especially when it concerns a historical battle such as Azincourt. The tactics are also discussed. For example, multiple approaches of infantry and agreed moments when archers release their salvos. Planning is very important when it comes to firearms! Planning is done in such a way that re-enactors do not accidentally stand in front of a firing cannon. 

Rules vary per event and country. But some basic rules are.

• No burrs on your weapon, burrs must be smoothly filed.
• The weapon must be in good condition. 
• No thrusting, even with thrusting weapons
• (leather) gloves and helmets (2mm) are mandatory. 
• Do not hit above the nipple line
• Listen to your officers, safety marshals, etc.
• Drink water when offered by a water carrier
• Keep distance from firing cannons, guns
• Guns must never be aimed at anyone
• Bows may have a maximum poundage of 30 pounds
• Arrows must be equipped with an undamaged safety tip
• Lie dead with your face down

Each weapon and every arrow taken to a re-enactment field is inspected. There should be no loose parts such as pommels present. The weapons must be sufficiently blunted, have a rounded tip, or be equipped with a safety tip. 

Re-enactment is a hobby in which you can continuously grow. This provides a years-long challenge where every weekend is different. Often also at a different location.