Each on the 28th of August, the city of Groningen commemorates that the city was under siege by the army of Christoph Bernhard von Galen, Bishop of Munster. This event Gronings Ontzet a.k. Bommen Berend as it is called in vernacular language. On this day, a wide variety of festivities are organized throughout the city. The day begins with the ceremonial wreath-laying by the Mayor of Groningen at the bust of Carl von Rabenhaupt, commander of the local armed forces defending the city. After an unsuccessful siege of 1 month, the Bishops of Munster ordered his army to withdraw.

The gallery above shows the ceremonial wreath-laying by the Mayor and young Mayor of Groningen.

Rijko Ebens