Simply put, Leiden’s Ontzet is the biggest celebration of town identity in the Netherlands. Against the backdrop of Leiden’s beautiful 17th and 18th century buildings and canals, commemoration and celebration go hand in hand, showing that history is far from dull – and far from over. The big question is: why?

During the Eighty Years War (1568-1648), Spanish forces besieged the city twice. The second siege, the city had not prepared adequately for another prolonged siege. No new stocks had been laid in, no new troops hired. Soon, Leiden fell prey to hunger and plague, killing a third of the population of 18,000. 

A relief force of 2,500 “geuzen” (from gueux, beggars in French) approached the city. By boat, no less, because William of Orange had given orders to pierce the dikes, letting the sea flood the fertile lands surrounding the city.  By 2 October, the Spanish commander Valdez sounded the retreat. An orphan boy, Cornelis Joppensz, was the first to go outside the city and found a cooking pot filled with hutspot, a stew of beef, carrots and onions. Later that Sunday 3 October, the relief fleet entered the city with a large stock of herring and white bread as well as other supplies for the starving population. As by a miracle, Leiden had been saved.

The relief of Leiden has been celebrated yearly ever since. Its oldest parts, the free distribution of herring and white bread and a memorial service, date to the very first 3 October, 1574.  In close cooperation with the city council and public services, as well as major stakeholders including Leiden University, the 3 October Vereeniging now organises roughly 30 events to mark the celebrations. It is by far the biggest civic organization in the greater Leiden area with over 14,000 paying members. The board members and commissioners work year round on a volunteer basis to make Leiden’s Ontzet the high point of the year for every Leiden resident.

Support by membership: https://3october.nl/en/signup

3 October Vereeniging

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