Leiden, Netherlands
Tue, Oct 30th 2007, 00:00
Leiden is a fine example of an historic city in the Netherlands.
Lying just 8 miles from Europes North Sea, Leiden is a picturesque place criss-crossed by canals dotted with small boats, the pavements lined with distinctive Dutch gabled 17th Century houses. The best way to explore is to cycle alongside the canals.
The Seige of Leiden
Leiden was besieged by the Spanish for nearly a year in 1574 during the Eighty Years War. During this time, the citizens of Leiden held fast despite a terrible shortage of food which brought them to the verge of starvation.
The siege was finally broken after the Dutch army, led by William of Orange, destroyed the dikes and deliberately flooded the surrounding area. When the Spanish finally withdrew, the Dutch army victoriously entered the city bearing food: bread with cheese and herring.
3 October is Leidens Ontzet (Leiden's Deliverance Day) – the anniversary of the day the siege ended – is still marked in the Netherlands every year in a culinary celebration ... bread and herring are distributed just as they were in 1574.
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- Groepswijzer.nl (2008-12-30)
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