The Siege of Groningen is an annual celebration in Groningen and takes place on the 28th of August, where everyone in Groningen usually has a day off.
The Bishop of Munster Bernhard von Galen, nicknamed Bommen Berend (“Bombing Bernard” in English), besieged Groningen in 1672 with his soldiers in the place where the Rabenhauptstraat is located now. After a week in which many soldiers and some civilians were killed, the bishop stopped the siege but not the invasion, until the battle of Groningen that is. We can celebrate today thanks to Carl von Rabenhaupt After Groningen was under episcopal rule for 5 weeks, von Rabenhaupt liberated Groningen on the 28th of August 1672 from the warlord.
In the city there are multiple commemorations of von Rabenhaupt, such as the bust of him in the Waagstraat where a wreath will be placed in remembrance, the plaque with his face on the Rabenhauptstraat that was named after him, and cafe Rabenhaupt. On the Rabenhauptstraat there’s also a memorial plaque of the siege itself.
This liberation is still celebrated in Groningen today with festivities starting on Wednesday the 21st of August with a fair returning to the Grote Markt after some years of absence. There will also be a market where horses are sold on the Ossenmarkt.
The University of Groningen will be open for tours and lectures about freedom and resilience. Jelle Brandt Corstius will be in the Academy building to do the traditional August 28th speech. On the 25th of August, there will be a festive remembrance mass in the Martini church, on the 26th there will be a historical lecture at the Baptist church in the Boteringestraat, and the North Netherlands Orchestra will be playing on the Ossenmarkt on the evening of the 27th of August.
In the Akerk the ‘Groote Maaltijd’ (big dinner) will be served on the 28th of August, and anyone can join. The dinner will consist of potatoes, sour crout and a meatball (with a vegetarian option available) and there will be a DJ and steelband. At the end of the festivities, there will be fireworks in the Zudierhaven on the 28th of August.
Almost all of the activities and lectures are free to attend, more information can be found here.
For more on the history of the Siege of Groningen, have a look at this piece by The Northern Times.
