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Liberation of
Leiden
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Liberation of Leiden
Early in the
Sixteenth Century the Netherlands became part of the Spanish
empire. The people of Leiden resisted a siege by the Spanish
army. When the Spanish frontal attacks failed to take the
town, the Spaniards tried to starve the population into
submission. The decimated citizens of Leiden, however,
refused to surrender. On the third of October 1574, after
months of hunger, illness and starvation, Leiden was finally
liberated by the Dutch rebel army. This army broke dikes
around the Netherlands, flooding the country to drive out
the Spanish. The people of Leiden streamed out of the Burcht
and and ate food left behind by the Spanish, and supplies
brought over the flooded countryside by Dutch supply ships.
The third of October is celebrated (Leidens Ontzet) by the
inhabitants of Leiden by eating the same food consumed
during the liberation in 1574: herring, white bread, and
hutspot (a stew). Of course, there also is an enormous town
festival on this day.
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