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The Relief of Leiden turns 450

Leiden has much to celebrate: first, 450 years of the Relief of Leiden and then 450 years of Leiden University. And that is no coincidence.

Leiden University was founded to celebrate the freedom the city had earned in its courageous resistance against the Spanish. Freedom connects these two celebrations and is worth celebrating now more than ever. Because freedom is in our university’s DNA: science flourishes where students and staff feel free. And freedom is something to cherish. That is why Leiden University is glad to be involved in celebrating 450 years of the Relief of Leiden in 2024.

450 years of the Relief of Leiden and Leiden University

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Activities

3 October University: come to the Science Fair

How do you go about assembling a human skeleton? What chemistry can be found all around us? And how easily are you fooled by fake news? Visitors could discover this and more at 3 October University.  

2024's edition of 3 October University was going large for a very special celebration: 450 years of 3 October! Together with Augustinus student association, Leiden University was hosting a Science Fair packed with stalls full of discoveries, science games and scavenger hunts.  

Helping a real professor and get your research diploma. Finding out how good you are at making difficult decisions under pressure. Helping measure the air quality in Leiden. Or playing games the Mesopotamians once played. There was plenty to see and do for young and old!  

Beleg theatre play

Bart Vieveen has managed to update a play from 1714 about the Siege of Leiden and arrange for five performances of it in Leiden’s theatre. He studied Dutch and Theatre Studies at Leiden University and is now directing Beleg. See this play marking the 450th anniversary of the Relief of Leiden in Leiden’s theatre in September. Eighteenth-century poet, playwright and honorary citizen of Leiden Lucretia van Merken wrote the play in 1774. (The play is in Dutch.)

Beleg in Leiden’s theatre

Traces of 3 October

The Traces of 3 October project is looking for traces and locations in Leiden and the surrounding area that recall the events surrounding the Siege and Relief of Leiden. The traces and places that hark back to the university’s foundation on 8 February 1575 are an important part of this story.

Traces of 3 October was an anniversary project by the 3 October Association, in collaboration with Leiden University, Leiden University of Applied Sciences Leiden, mboRijnland and Leiden City of Knowledge.

The project had various outcomes. A monthly chronicle about the Relief of Leiden was appearing in the Leidsch Dagblad newspaper from October 2023 to October 2024. Research by Leiden history and archaeology students has helped make this possible.

The documentary Sporen van Drie Oktober (Traces of 3 October) for example, which looks for traces, historical locations and memorials in the Leiden area. The premiere was on 26 September 2024. 

The book Sporen van Drie Oktober (Traces of 3 October), which was launched on 11 September, contains stories of surviving traces told through eyewitness accounts, historical footage, archaeological finds and interviews with experts. Once you know all that happened in the places featured, you’ll never look at them the same way again.

Students from mboRijnland have created their own Epic Quest, which takes you on an interactive walk through the city and the story of the Relief of Leiden.

The Traces of the Third of October regional cycle route takes you past the surviving traces in Leiden and surrounding municipalities. The route was opened on 14 2024 September and is open to all.

Website Traces of 3 October

Leiden celebrates – 450 years of parades

Students partying and in fancy dress, professors in billowing gowns: discover at the Leiden celebrates – 450 years of parades exhibition in Museum De Lakenhal the university and city’s rich tradition of parades. People have always celebrated together and parades are the perfect way to do so. They create togetherness and a shared identity. What could be more fun than joining a festive parade or watching one pass by?

Bringing together paintings, metre-long prints, photos, films, costumes and props such as armour, swords, helmets and spears, the exhibition shows how extravagant these celebrations were and still are. March through four and a half centuries of Leiden’s parade history.

The exhibition about Leiden’s history of exuberant parades can be seen at Museum De Lakenhal from 21 September 2024 to 2 March 2025.

Museum De Lakenhal: 450 years of parades

The Grand Parade

The university owes its very existence to the Relief of Leiden (Leidens Ontzet). So we were all to keen to participate in this year’s celebration. One way we were doing so was with a fantastic float with performers in costume in the Grand Parade.

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