The Relief of Leiden (Leidens Ontzet)
Leiden is immersed in festivities for The Relief of Leiden (Leidens Ontzet) celebrations and virtually everybody has the day off work. On this day in 1574, the city was relieved from a long siege laid by the Spaniards.
The centre of town is transformed into a festive scene with a funfair. A key note of the festivities is the distribution of bread with cheese and herring in remembrance of the food the Dutch army brought to the starving town after the Spanish were thwarted.
While 3 October is not celebrated outside the Leiden area, many who were born in Leiden, and now living elsewhere, do enjoy the traditional hutspot (a stew of carrots, onions and meat) meal in the evening.
| Town Information: | Leiden |
|---|---|
| Full Name: |
| Name: | Netherlands Tourist Office |
|---|---|
| Location: | The Netherlands |
| Address: | PO Box 458, 2260 MG Leidschendam, The Netherlands |
| Phone: | +31 (0) 70 370 5705 |
| Fax: | +31 (0) 70 320 1654 |
Event details can change. Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.
