Everyone in Groningen knows it: the fair, the fireworks and the public holiday on 28 August. That’s when we celebrate the ‘Gronings Ontzet’, also known as Bommen Berend. But what exactly happened back then? Why did a bishop want to take over our city? In this article, we explain it in simple terms.
Who was Bommen Berend?
The enemy’s real name was Bernhard von Galen. He was the bishop of the German city of Münster. In the year 1672, he attacked Groningen. He used a great many bombs fired from cannons. For that time, this was a very modern and powerful weapon. That is why the people of Groningen still call him ‘Bommen Berend’ to this day.
Why did he attack Groningen?
The bishop believed that the areas surrounding Groningen actually belonged to him. In 1672, the Netherlands was under attack from all sides. The bishop thought that the north of the Netherlands was not well protected. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to seize the land.
The battle for the city
Before the bishop reached the city of Groningen, he first tried to capture the fortress of Bourtange. He even tried to bribe the Dutch captain there with 200,000 guilders! But the captain refused and said that instead of money, the bishop could have 200,000 bullets.
Eventually, the bishop reached the city of Groningen on 21 July 1672. He began shelling the city. Fortunately, the northern side of the city was still easily accessible for supplies and food. The city had also recently been reinforced with strong walls. The defence was led by Carl von Rabenhaupt.
The victory
After about a month, the bishop gave up. His army had suffered defeats elsewhere and he had lost many soldiers. On 28 August 1672, he withdrew. Of the 24,000 soldiers he had brought with him, only half remained. Groningen was free!
How do we celebrate it today?
Since then, 28 August has been the most important public holiday for the city and the province. In the past, horses were already very important to wealthy farmers, which is why you can still see the ‘Peerdenspul’ (horse shows and competitions) at the trotting track.
Nowadays, we celebrate the occasion with:
- A big funfair in the city.
- Spectacular fireworks.
- Music events.
- A day off work: many businesses and offices are closed on that day.
The Relief of Groningen reminds us of the time when the city stood its ground bravely. So if you’re at the fair again this year, you’ll know exactly why we’re celebrating!
