Symbols of Freedom

Where did Poland's national symbols come from, and what was their history? From 29 September 2026 to 31 December 2027, the answers to these questions can be found at a new temporary exhibition at the Museum of the National Anthem in Będomin, a branch of the National Museum in Gdańsk, housed in a historic manor house where Józef Wybicki was born.

The exhibition presents national symbols as a living language of memory and as forms that changed with the fate of the state, yet never lost their power to express the most important values: freedom, dignity and the continuity of tradition. It speaks of identity, pride and history inscribed in the national colours, revealing the origins of Poland's oldest emblems, explaining their meaning and showing how they changed dynamically over the centuries. These simple signs – the White Eagle, the national cockade and the white‑and‑red flag – became carriers of the emotions and experiences of successive generations, accompanying moments of triumph and defeat, hope and resistance, and at the same time remaining a space in which everyone could find their own story.

At the heart of the exhibition is a rich collection of depictions of the national coat of arms, allowing visitors to trace the evolution of the White Eagle through numerous objects recalling the power of the Jagiellonian dynasty, the moment of regaining independence in 1918, and up to entirely contemporary forms. Besides images of the coat of arms, the exhibition includes numerous flags and banners that have united Poles for centuries. Yet the exhibition is not limited to objects; it also tells the stories of people, from war heroes to contemporary masters.

– Among the most fascinating and moving objects is the original Prussian eagle, which was reworked into the Polish coat of arms right after independence was regained, becoming a tangible symbol of the throwing off of the yoke of the partitions. Of great historical value is the armband of a Warsaw Uprising fighter, sanctified by struggle, and the naval flags that flew on the masts of the destroyer ORP Błyskawica during battles of the Second World War and of the famous Dar Pomorza – says exhibition curator Przemysław Rey.

The historical journey is complemented by witnesses of recent times, including flags that accompanied Polish troops during the mission in Iraq, and a flag that flew over the Polish Arctic Station named after Henryk Arctowski. Each object in the exhibition has its own unique history.

– With this exhibition we want to remind people that the true strength of national symbols lies not in their material form but in their capacity to build community. These are symbols that can unite beyond differences of age, opinion and experience, creating a space in which the word “we” becomes more important than what divides us – adds Małgorzata Gańska, exhibition curator.

The Museum of the National Anthem was established in 1978 in the historic manor house where the author of the Polish anthem, Józef Wybicki, was born in 1747. It collects objects connected with Józef Wybicki and his era, as well as paintings, graphic art, militaria, patriotic music and historical memorabilia from the 19th and 20th centuries documenting the history of “Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”. It also deals with the history of the other national symbols and the rules governing their use. Two permanent exhibitions can be seen there: “Józef Wybicki and His Times” and “The Fate of Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”. It is located in the village of Będomin, about 8 km from Kościerzyna.