The Siege of Leiden occured during the Eighty Year's War in 1573 and 1574, when the Spanish attempted to capture the rebelloius city of Leiden, but failed. In September 1574, the Dutch decided to break the dikes in the south to let in seawater and so relieve the siege. However, in the absence of storms, for months the water did not rise high enough to flood the area.
Thousands of inhabitants died of starvation. They held on because they knew that the Spanish would kill them all. Om 2 and 3 October, after the storms finally came, a relief force of Watergeuzen were approaching Leiden via flat-bottomed boats. The waterlogged Spanish army lifted the siege. The rebel fleets brought herring and white bread to the starving population. The people also got "hutspot". According to legend, a little orphan boy named Cornelis Joppenszoon found a cooking pot full with hutspot, the Spaniards had to leave behind when they left their camp in a hurry to escape from the rising water.
Inhabitants of Leiden still eat at 3 October hutspot, herring and white bread. There is a big funfair in the center of the city. Leids ontzet is called the carneval of the North.
All day long
Free