Photo albums

Leidens Onzet 2008
Leiden was sieged by the Spanish in 1573 and 1574, during the Eighty Years' War. After enduring the siege for many months, the city was finally freed on October 2 and 3 of 1574. The Relief of Leiden (Leidens Ontzet) is celebrated each year with ceremonies, parades, performances, a funfair and other festivities.
Leiden, the Netherlands
78 photos
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 A skûtsje in Leiden's old harbour. Skûtsjes were originally built as cargo ships in Friesland and Groningen, two provinces in the northeast of the Netherlands. This particular one, named De Rot, was built in 1887 and is believed to be the oldest metal skûtsje. It was originally used by the inhabitants of the Frisian village of Rottevalle to transport goods back and forth to the market in Leeuwarden, some 20 miles west. Rottevalle happens to be the village where my mother grew up.
A skûtsje in Leiden's old harbour. Skûtsjes were originally built as cargo ships in Friesland and Groningen, two provinces in the northeast of the Netherlands. This particular one, named De Rot, was built in 1887 and is believed to be the oldest metal skûtsje. It was originally used by the inhabitants of the Frisian village of Rottevalle to transport goods back and forth to the market in Leeuwarden, some 20 miles west. Rottevalle happens to be the village where my mother grew up.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Skûtsje De Rot in Leiden's old harbour.
Skûtsje De Rot in Leiden's old harbour.
Skûtsje De Rot in Leiden's old harbour.
Skûtsje De Rot in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
 Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
Tugboats, towboats and other ships in Leiden's old harbour.
View down the Oude Vest, one of many canals in Leiden.
View down the Oude Vest, one of many canals in Leiden.
 The Marekerk viewed from across the Oude Vest.
The Marekerk viewed from across the Oude Vest.
A street organ on a bridge over the Oude Vest.
A street organ on a bridge over the Oude Vest.
 A street organ in the Haarlemmerstraat, a major shopping street in downtown Leiden.
A street organ in the Haarlemmerstraat, a major shopping street in downtown Leiden.
Tjalks in another of Leiden's historical harbours. Like skûtsjes, tjalks were built as cargo ships, but they were used all across the country.
Tjalks in another of Leiden's historical harbours. Like skûtsjes, tjalks were built as cargo ships, but they were used all across the country.
 Another tjalk.
Another tjalk.
The theme of this year's 3 October Parade was "games". The parade included representations of chess, Monopoly, Ludo, playing cards and many other games. Also present were many marching bands. I found a quiet spot along the Zoeterwoudsesingel to shoot some pictures.
The theme of this year's 3 October Parade was "games". The parade included representations of chess, Monopoly, Ludo, playing cards and many other games. Also present were many marching bands. I found a quiet spot along the Zoeterwoudsesingel to shoot some pictures.
 Marching band in the 3 October Parade.
Marching band in the 3 October Parade.
3 October Parade.
3 October Parade.
 Marching band in the 3 October Parade.
Marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A wine shop supporting the 3 October Parade.
A wine shop supporting the 3 October Parade.
 A couple of performance take a break as the 3 October Parade comes to a halt a few hundred metres back.
A couple of performance take a break as the 3 October Parade comes to a halt a few hundred metres back.
A couple of Santas in the 3 October Parade. I haven't got a clue why they were in there.
A couple of Santas in the 3 October Parade. I haven't got a clue why they were in there.
 A custom-painted truck in the 3 October Parade.
A custom-painted truck in the 3 October Parade.
A custom-painted truck in the 3 October Parade.
A custom-painted truck in the 3 October Parade.
 A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
 A couple of police officers on bikes in the 3 October Parade.
A couple of police officers on bikes in the 3 October Parade.
A couple of police officers on motor bikes in the 3 October Parade.
A couple of police officers on motor bikes in the 3 October Parade.
 A police van in the 3 October Parade.
A police van in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
 A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
The honour guard carrying the banner of the 3 October Society in the 3 October Parade.
The honour guard carrying the banner of the 3 October Society in the 3 October Parade.
 Riders carry the flags of Leiden (left) and the Netherlands in the 3 October Parade.
Riders carry the flags of Leiden (left) and the Netherlands in the 3 October Parade.
A carriage carrying the mayor of Leiden and the president of the 3 October Society in the 3 October Parade.
A carriage carrying the mayor of Leiden and the president of the 3 October Society in the 3 October Parade.
 Another carriage carrying dignitaries in the 3 October Parade.
Another carriage carrying dignitaries in the 3 October Parade.
Another carriage carrying dignitaries in the 3 October Parade.
Another carriage carrying dignitaries in the 3 October Parade.
 A golden carriage in the 3 October Parade.
A golden carriage in the 3 October Parade.
Riders in the 3 October Parade.
Riders in the 3 October Parade.
 The game of Mens-Erger-Je-Niet (known as Ludo in English) in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Mens-Erger-Je-Niet (known as Ludo in English) in the 3 October Parade.
Children portray the pawns of Mens-Erger-Je-Niet (Ludo) in the 3 October Parade.
Children portray the pawns of Mens-Erger-Je-Niet (Ludo) in the 3 October Parade.
 Playing cards in the 3 October Parade.
Playing cards in the 3 October Parade.
Playing cards in the 3 October Parade.
Playing cards in the 3 October Parade.
 A tiny marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A tiny marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A roller skater portraying a die in the 3 October Parade.
A roller skater portraying a die in the 3 October Parade.
 A roller skater portraying a die in the 3 October Parade.
A roller skater portraying a die in the 3 October Parade.
Geese portray the game of Ganzenbord (Game of the Goose) in the 3 October Parade.
Geese portray the game of Ganzenbord (Game of the Goose) in the 3 October Parade.
 Geese portray the game of Ganzenbord (Game of the Goose) in the 3 October Parade.
Geese portray the game of Ganzenbord (Game of the Goose) in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Wie Is Het? (Guess Who?) in the 3 October Parade..
The game of Wie Is Het? (Guess Who?) in the 3 October Parade..
 The game of chess in the 3 October Parade.
The game of chess in the 3 October Parade.
A rickshaw precedes the game of Mikado in the 3 October Parade.
A rickshaw precedes the game of Mikado in the 3 October Parade.
 The game of Mikado in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Mikado in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
 The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Monopoly in the 3 October Parade.
 An enlarged table shuffleboard in the 3 October Parade.
An enlarged table shuffleboard in the 3 October Parade.
A tiny marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A tiny marching band in the 3 October Parade.
 A man with a freight tricycle belonging to the band on the previous picture.
A man with a freight tricycle belonging to the band on the previous picture.
The game of Tower of Pisa in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Tower of Pisa in the 3 October Parade.
 A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
Children portray domino stones in the 3 October Parade.
Children portray domino stones in the 3 October Parade.
 The Wheel of Fortune in the 3 October Parade.
The Wheel of Fortune in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
 Actors portray the game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
Actors portray the game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
Actors portray the game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
Actors portray the game of Cluedo in the 3 October Parade.
 A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
A marching band in the 3 October Parade.
Historical dress in the 3 October Parade.
Historical dress in the 3 October Parade.
 The game of Stratego in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Stratego in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Connect Four in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Connect Four in the 3 October Parade.
 The game of Scrabble in the 3 October Parade.
The game of Scrabble in the 3 October Parade.
Towards the end, the 3 October Parade carried two Leiden members of the Dutch waterpolo team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics. I believe the girl in the front is Noeki Klein and the one in the back Mieke Cabout.
Towards the end, the 3 October Parade carried two Leiden members of the Dutch waterpolo team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics. I believe the girl in the front is Noeki Klein and the one in the back Mieke Cabout.
 The last game portrayed in the 3 October Parade: Twister.
The last game portrayed in the 3 October Parade: Twister.