The Siege of Alkmaar
In the autumn of 1573 Alkmaar lay besieged by a mighty Spanish army. It was a small walled town against overwhelming force, and yet it became the first city to make the Spanish withdraw. «From Alkmaar begins the victory», people said afterwards, and those words stuck.
1 The town against the odds
The Spanish army under Don Frederik, son of the dreaded Duke of Alba, had already plundered many a town and thought to break Alkmaar quickly too. But behind the ramparts stood citizens, farmers and soldiers shoulder to shoulder. When the assault came, it was beaten off with all that lay to hand: with musket and pike, but also with pitch, boiling water and everything that could be thrown from the walls. Attack after attack broke upon the resolve of the defenders.
2 The water and the victory
When assault did not work, the greatest weapon of the low country threatened: word went out that the dikes would be cut and the whole siege put under water. For the Spanish, far from home and with wet feet in a hostile land, that was too much. On 8 October 1573 they broke off the siege and withdrew. Alkmaar had been the first town to hold out, and that gave the whole Revolt new heart. Ever since it is said with pride: from Alkmaar begins the victory, for there the tide first turned.
Vie FelineKattengedrag en vachtverzorging War and occupation
Heimweer.be — Europees Erfgoed Bewaard
