Leiden

besieged by the Spanish, the city of Leiden was stubbornly defended while its citizens suffered starvation. Meeting protesting women, the Burgemeester (Mayor) said, "Cut off my arm and feed it to your children," whereupon they left silently. The rebelling forces had to wait until autumn for the waters to rise, so they could inundate the low lands of Holland. They breached the dikes of the Hollandse IJssel, between Rotterdam and Gouda. The Spanish had to beat a nighttime retreat before the rising waters. This allowed free access for the flat-bottomed boats of the Watergeusen (Water-beggars), delivering white bread and herring. The hutspot (hodgepodge) was found where the Spanish had left it.

Leiden's Deliverance: October 3, 1574
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was a gift by the Prince of Holland William of Orange to reward the citizens of Leiden for their courageous defense of the city during the Spanish occupation in the 16th century. In the 16th century the Dutch rebelled against the authority of Spain. Most of the fighting took place in the south of the Netherlands; the northern part could consider itself liberated towards the end of the 16th century.

Before that, though, battles took place and the Siege of Leiden was an important event. Leiden was besieged for nearly a year in 1574. The Dutch army, led by William of Orange (nicknamed "the Silent"), deliberately flooded the fields around Leiden, breaking the dikes, to force the Spanish armies to raise their siege. The Spanish tried to lure the citizens into surrender with promises, but the people of Leiden decided to stick it out in spite of a terrible shortage of food which brought the people of Leiden on the verge of starvation.

Finally, the Spanish withdrew and the siege ended on October 3, 1574. The Dutch army entered the city with food: bread with cheese and herring. The date on which the siege ended, the third of October (Leidens Ontzet or Leiden's Deliverance), is still celebrated every year with large scale festivities, and.... with bread and herring.

Relief of the siege of Leiden.... Siege and relief
After the fall of Haarlem in 1573 Leiden grew in strategic importance and consequently the Spaniards invaded the Rhineland. On the 31st of October 1573 the Spanish general Valdez began his siege of the city. This was a new tactic; the city was no longer being attacked at the cost of many lives, but the inhabitants were starved during a prolonged siege.

William the Silent sent troops from the south to lure the Spaniards away. Successfully: on the 21st of March 1574 Valdez broke off the siege and left. No one considered the possibility of the general returning in the night of May 25th, and it turned out the city's magistrates had insufficient food in stock. Aside from hunger the city was also hit by the plague in July.

On the 30th of July the counties of Holland decided to break the dikes in the surrounding area to flood the country, but the water rose too slowly. Meanwhile, Valdez tried to lure the citizens, with promises, into surrender. Part of the city council was interested, but eventually it was decided to stick it out. Inhabitants ate cats, dogs and rats. Sometimes, as a silent protest, a corpse was put on the doorstep of mayor Van der Werf.

On 18 September the weather grew worse and the water began to rise. The irregular army of the Prince of Orange arrived from the south. On 3 October the citizens prepared an attack. They were surprised to find silence on the other side of the wall and sent Cornelis Joppensz. to find out what was going on. It turned out the Spaniards had fled. The Dutch army entered the city with food: bread with cheese and herring. Nowadays 3 October is a local holiday with many festivities.