The Freedom Day of Den Briel

The annual festival celebrating the defeat of the Spanish rule in 1572!

    The streets of the tiny town of Brielle are one big fair - handicrafts, re-enactments, music, eats and drinks, and a carnival. Here a lady shows off her lace bonnets, demonstrates the art of making mustard, and sells jars of the freshly-made brew. The city of Doesburg is also famous for the old mustard factory which is now a mustard museum. A Spanish infantry man leers at a pretty local girl - it's all in good fun and many people dress up in costumes of the time. Nuns and priests, beggars and peddlers, noblemen and ladies, freedom fighters and Spanish. Kids have miniature "garage sales" and sell old toys and books.

The previous day, a bride and groom with a full regalia get on a galleon ship and sail out of town. The next day, they return to reclaim the city for the Dutch patriots.
   
 

This page last updated on April 27, 2001
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