Exhibition: The King of Bali

The King of Bali – discover the story of Mads Lange in Rudkøbing

From Rudkøbing on Langeland to Bali on the other side of the globe. The exhibition ‘The King of Bali’ tells the story of Mads Lange, who grew up in Rudkøbing, set sail as a young man and later made a life for himself as an international merchant in Bali.

From Rudkøbing to Bali

Mads Lange came from a family of grocers in Rudkøbing. After several years as a sailor, he established himself in what was then the Dutch East Indies and later settled in Bali. There, he built up an extensive trading business and moved between Balinese princes and the Dutch colonial powers. Among other things, he acted as a mediator in conflicts between the parties. His position became so prominent that he later became known as the King of Bali, even though he was never formally a king.

Artifacts bring Mads Lange closer to us

In the exhibition, you can see artefacts linked to Mads Lange and the status he achieved in Bali. Among them are Balinese figurines depicting him with a keris – a local sword – and a royal crown. The artefacts provide a concrete insight into how the merchant’s son from Rudkøbing was perceived within the Balinese society he became part of.

Find more traces of Mads Lange in Rudkøbing

The story continues beyond the exhibition. Mads Lange was born in Østergade, and a bust of him stands in Torvet in Rudkøbing. You can therefore combine your visit to ‘The King of Bali’ with a stroll through the old market town and follow further traces of Mads Lange.

More things to do in Rudkøbing

Do also take the time to explore Rudkøbing. The town has a well-preserved market-town atmosphere with old houses and winding cobbled streets. Among other things, you can visit the other exhibitions at Langeland Museum, see Rudkøbing Bymølle or follow the town and park trail, which leads through both the town centre and the harbour area. If you fancy some nature close to the town, the walk can continue through Rudkøbing Vejle and Fredskoven, where the paths wind through a wetland area on the town’s outskirts, featuring open meadows and birdlife.

Exhibition: The King of Bali

Venue: Langeland Visitor Centre, Østergade 23, 5900 Rudkøbing

Admission: Free

The exhibition follows Langeland Visitor Centre’s opening hours

The ‘King of Bali’ exhibition is on display at the Langeland Visitor Centre in Rudkøbing, which also houses a tourist information office and a geopark visitor centre. The visitor centre features a level-access layout with no doorsteps, automatic and wide doors, and a disabled toilet. The Langeland Visitor Centre is centrally located in Rudkøbing and can be combined with a walk through the town centre.