Relief of Leiden, 1574

On 3 October 1574 the Sea Beggars distributed herring and white bread among the famished inhabitants of Leiden. After several months, the Spanish troops were finally forced to abandon their siege of the city. By flooding the surrounding countryside the enemy were driven away and the liberators were able to sail in. The painting shows how the Sea Beggars entered the city on their flat-bottomed barges. On one of the craft (left, with a medal on a blue ribbon around his neck) is the leader of the Sea Beggars, Admiral Louis de Boisot.